Hindalco Industries, a primary player in the aluminium industry, is intensifying its commitment to sustainability. Satish Pai, the Managing Director, envisions achieving the first phase of the interim greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target well before 2030.
By 2030, through the completion of the initial phase of the pumped hydro project, Hindalco aims to secure more than 30% of its energy requirements from renewable sources. The company's aspirations extend beyond, aspiring to attain carbon neutrality by 2050.
The game-changing Pumped Hydro Project
Pai highlights the significance of the pumped hydro project, anticipating a substantial impact on reducing carbon emissions. The successful implementation could propel Hindalco towards achieving its energy mix targets ahead of schedule.
"Once the first phase of the pumped hydro project comes on stream, we believe it would pave the way for using this technology across our smelters and achieving 30% of our energy mix from renewable sources by 2030. This and our other sustainability projects might even help us achieve our target a couple of years earlier," Pai analysed.
Satish Pai also leads the executive committee of Vikaasa, a coalition of Indian entities that is working hand-in-hand to arrive at the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. He added: "Last quarter, we reported 19.6 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of aluminium, and we believe in bringing it down below four, which is considered green if this pumped hydro plant works."
Collaborative green initiatives
In 2022, Hindalco entered a pact with Greenko Group to co-produce solar and wind power capacity, contributing to a reduction of 680,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Plans are underway to amplify this effort and introduce a similar solar project in Madhya Pradesh.
"The RE project is to be set up as a captive generation facility under a 25-year offtake arrangement and will supply power to Hindalco's Aditya Aluminium smelter in Odisha, enabling reduction of CO2 emissions by 680,000 tonnes annually," he declared with pride.
Hindalco's red mud revolution
Hindalco is pioneering sustainable practices, recycling 2.87 million tonnes of red mud, with the aim of achieving zero waste landfills by 2030. The company is exploring innovative uses, such as incorporating red mud in road construction. "84% of our waste generated is recycled, and our target is to be zero waste landfill by 2030, and we are spending north to INR 400 crore in a year. We are also testing the use of red mud in road construction across India," clarified Pai.
Carbon capture and recycling to global initiatives by Novelis
Pioneering carbon capture, Hindalco is experimenting with advanced mineralisation to sequester CO2. The company is engaged in projects aiming to transform captured carbon into construction aggregates or ready-mix concrete.
Hindalco's overseas subsidiary, Novelis, showcases substantial commitment by recycling 82 billion used beverage cans, forming 61% of the material used in production. Collaborations with leading auto OEMs project a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
Financial commitment to sustainability
Hindalco allocates 25 per cent of its INR 2,000 crore maintenance capital expenditure annually towards sustainability projects, emphasising the financial dedication to eco-friendly practices.
As Hindalco propels towards sustainable milestones, the future holds a promising transformation. With ambitious projects in the pipeline and a steadfast commitment, Hindalco is poised to redefine the aluminium industry, embracing a greener, eco-conscious tomorrow. If you are interested in learning more about international green initiatives renovating the aluminium sector, go ahead and read AL Circle's specially curated report on the same, Sustainability in the Global Aluminium Industry.
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