Thermax demonstrated its innovative green and decarbonisation technologies, aiming to bridge the gap between energy availability and sustainability, at its inaugural edition of “Thermax Fest” in Pune, scheduled to be held during December 12-15, 2023.
At the event on December 12, 2023, Thermax Group made key announcements outlining its vision and the future of the company in alignment with global energy transition goals.
Bio-CNG
The company, through one of its subsidiaries, has secured orders worth more than Rs.500crore from a leading energy conglomerate for setting up five bio-CNG plants across India. These plants will be set up in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra (two plants) and Uttar Pradesh. With the capacity to produce 110 tonnes per day (tpd) of bio-CNG, these plants will utilise local feedstock exceeding 1,000 tpd, which includes rice straw, Napier grass, cane trash and soya trash.
Bio-CNG generated from these plants will be employed for commercial and captive use by the customer. This is part of Thermax’s broader initiative to introduce solutions around biochemicals and bioenergy. Thermax is the largest provider of biomass-based green energy solutions for fuel flexibility. The range of offerings encompasses standard products, hybrid energy systems, complex EPC projects, and green steam/power as a service.
Renewable energy
Thermax has targeted to install 1 GW of hybrid renewable energy solutions by FY27. Power will be evacuated through intrastate and interstate transmission systems, helping industries with a variety of offerings, including round-the-clock clean electricity requirements.
Amongst the 290 MWp (commissioned and under construction) is the company’s latest wind and solar bundled captive power project comprising 100 MW wind and 90 MWp solar, located in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, which is being evacuated at 110 kV level. The captive users are leading organisations from tyre, auto comp, petrochemical and textile industries.
The company currently manages an operational portfolio of 140MWp, with an additional 145 MWp under construction. Over 300 MW is under development, and another 400 MW is in the pipeline.
Driving sustainability through innovation
Ashish Bhandari, MD & CEO, Thermax, on the occasion, said, “For 50 years, Thermax has played a vital role in India’s energy landscape. We are continuously driving sustainability through innovation, cross-functional expertise and partnerships. To address the country’s unique energy challenges, we have pioneered technologies for converting waste to energy and are investing in newer areas such as hybrid renewables, biofuels, green hydrogen, and more. As a trusted partner in energy transition, our commitment is to bridge the gap between energy availability and sustainability. Thermax Fest is a confluence that showcases some of these technologies and cutting-edge solutions that can help industries meet their climate commitments.”
Thermax also aims to develop gasification plants with carbon capture capabilities, ranging from 100 tpd to 500 tpd, to process coal. Based on fluidised bed coal gasification technology, Thermax has implemented a pilot gasifier project at its factory in Pune in partnership with IIT Delhi, with support from the Department of Science & Technology. This indigenously developed technology converts high-ash Indian coal into value-added fuels. It is particularly beneficial for hard-to-abate industries like the steel sector. These plans align with the Prime Minister’s vision of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030.
Also read: Thermax Group: Order Inflow Up 11 Per Cent In Q1FY24
Electric boiler
Thermax has also recently launched electrical energy solutions such as the electric boiler and hybrid heat pump for meeting heating and cooling requirements. Thermax leads in indigenously developed products of this range, lowering dependence on imports and minimizing associated costs. Electrical solutions reduce reliance on fossil fuels, optimize energy and achieve zero emissions when powered by green electricity.