Sunsure Energy Establishes Three Solar Power Plants for Dalmia Bharat Cement

Independent Power Producer Sunsure Energy has set up three solar power projects for cement manufacturer Dalmia Bharat Cement to help power up the cement major's operations. The solar power projects are for a cumulative capacity of 23.74 MW.

The said projects entail a 17.5 MW capacity solar power project in Cuttack, Odisha. The project will produce 40 million units of green power and offset 32 million kgs of carbon. This is equivalent to planting 8 lac trees.

The second project, located in Chandrapur, Maharashtra is for 4.5 MW capacity, The project will produce 3.5 million units of green power, offsetting 2.8 million kgs of carbon. This is the equivalent of planting 1.1 lac trees.

The third project is also located in Odisha in Sundargarh with a capacity of 1.74 MW. It will produce 6.3 million units of green power, offsetting 5 million kgs of carbon. This is the equivalent of planting 92,000 trees.

The Dalmia Group has committed to net-zero by 2040. As of 2022, its carbon footprint remained 40% lower than the global average for a cement firm.

As per a study by the IEA, "The direct CO2 emissions intensity of cement production has been broadly flat over the last five years, and is estimated to have increased slightly (by 1%) in 2022." Cement majors are thus resorting to renewable energy to power their operations and curb emissions. Some of the other cement firms that have taken the renewable energy route include JK Cement that has entered into a PPA with CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions for 6.42 MW wind-solar generation capacity. It is also in agreement with Amplus Solar for the establishment of 56 MW solar plant.

Other cement firms committed to curbing their carbon emissions include Ultratech Cement, Shree Cement, Ambuja Cements.