Tata Steel Using Multiple Options To Boost Use Of RE: Probal Ghosh

Tata Steel Using Multiple Options To Boost Use Of RE: Probal Ghosh

1. What are the major works you are doing towards shifting to renewable energy for your operations?

Integrated Steel plants are power intensive and require huge quantum of power. Currently, the standard BF-BOF route of making steel is in operation and the by-product gases generated in the process are utilised for meeting many heating purposes and generate power equivalent to 45-50% of the total power requirement. The power generated from the by-product gases do not result in any additional carbon emissions. Most of our current initiatives are aimed at replacing the maximum possible quantum of remaining 50-55% of the power with renewable energy.

Some major milestones are listed below:

• Tata Steel Limited (‘TSL’) has executed Agreement with Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), to set up 966 MW renewable hybrid (Wind + Solar) installations to meet up to 379 MW of its power requirement from renewable power at multiple locations of the company under captive mode and also a 70 MW Solar Power set up for usage at its plants in Maharashtra. This will bring reduction of nearly 53 million tons of CO2 over 25 years.

• We are also harnessing solar power by installing rooftop and floating solar panels at Jamshedpur and Kalinganagar locations. Other potential sites across TSL are also under evaluation for installation of roof top / floating solar.

• After usage of the power generated from by-product gases/waste heat, a large part of the power requirement for our growth projects, is planned to be met through renewable power.

• The hydrogen injection trial at one of our Blast furnaces at Jamshedpur was done successfully. However, feasibility for large scale  continuous usage may take some time to be commercially viable.

2. Do you think you would be able to achieve your 2030 or 2045 renewable targets? How much is the progress done towards it?

Tata Steel has been working since past few years on integrating renewable energy into its power mix. Given the current endeavours and future planning, we are evaluating technical advancement especially in grid scale power storage solutions to achieve our long-term targets.

3. Besides renewables, what are the other measures taken to move towards low-carbon operations?

Our approach to enabling low-carbon operations is multi-pronged. These include–

• Driving energy efficiency which involves a reduction in energy consumption by adopting efficient equipment and processes

• Enabling power generation through waste energy usage which includes Coke Dry quenching (CDQ) at our coke plant, Top recovery turbine Generators (TRTGs) at our blast furnaces, and micro-turbines usage for power generation while converting high-pressure steam to lowpressure steam

• Use of low-carbon fuel like Natural Gas (NG) in processes is being explored and integrate renewable power in the power mix. We are currently looking for opportunities on the extraction of low heat waste energy and maximising renewable power in our power mix.

4. What kind of partnerships you have done in the past few years either with govt or private entities to boost the growth of renewables in your business?

The actions taken to promote the usage of renewable power are commendable and have significantly helped in the adoption of renewable power. These include the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges waiver, Green Energy Open Access, and incentives for energy storage plants and green hydrogen. However, further work is required to be done to make it economically viable. We are working to maximise the integration of renewable power, along with the storage and adoption of energy-efficient processes and we are also studying the feasibility of incorporating Natural gas as an alternate fuel.

5. Steel is considered as hard to abate sector? Have you explored opting for Green Hydrogen?

In 2023, Tata Steel successfully completed a first-in-the-world trial of Hydrogen injection in the one of the Blast furnaces at Jamshedpur.
However, the green hydrogen-based steelmaking is still under study and trials and is expected to take time to be commercially viable.

6. Have you worked towards recycling to boost the circular economy?

Tata Steel is committed to achieving its goal of Zero Waste through 100% material efficiency while sustaining solid waste utilisation at 100% level across all its locations. We are setting up a 0.75MnTPA scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) plant in Ludhiana, Punjab which is a step towards out target of reducing carbon footprint and sustainable manufacturing. A major part of the power requirement for this plant will be sourced from renewable power. In addition to this, we have a 0.5 MnTPA capacity of Steel Recycling Business at Rohtak in Haryana
as well. Apart from this, we are also focused on optimization of scrap charging in our steel-melt shops which is again another enabler for reduction of carbon footprint.

7. What works best for you- rooftop solar, open access, or mini-grids to infuse more renewables in your business?

Given the huge quantum of power required for a steel plant, the best option is open access. Behind the meter solar installation can only meet a very small part of the total power requirement, but it is being simultaneously adopted