Sustainability

LICO Materials has committed to invest INR 240 crore in its Karnataka facility that will produce battery-grade critical minerals from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. The project qualifies for a 20% capital expenditure (CapEx) subsidy and a multi-year operational expenditure (OpEx) subsidy linked to incremental commercial sales through FY 2030-31.

Milton Kenny, general manager-ESG at Premier Energies Ltd, discusses how ESG is reshaping the renewable energy sector—from decarbonisation to supply chain transparency and circularity.

A new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) highlights a widening gap between the headline climate commitments made by India’s major steel companies and their actual progress in building the operational, technological, and financial infrastructure required to meet their decarbonisation ambitions. This gap risks locking in emissions-intensive technologies for decades, slowing progress towards net zero and undermining the sector’s long-term competitiveness.

Researchers in the United States reviewed claims about PFAS in solar panels and found that while fluoropolymers may be used in limited components like backsheets or coatings, there is no confirmed evidence of PFAS leaching from commercially deployed modules. The study highlights widespread confusion between different PFAS types and emphasizes the need for clearer communication and transparency around fluoropolymer use in PV technologies.

NavPrakriti, a lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company, has announced plans to invest over INR 100 crore to establish a greenfield critical minerals refining facility in Odisha. This facility is expected to become operational by FY 2028–29.

India’s industrial sector is entering a pivotal phase in its energy transition. What was once a routine fuel procurement decision is now becoming a strategic imperative. Rising LPG costs, supply unpredictability, and increasing operational risks are prompting businesses to rethink how they power their operations — not just for efficiency, but for resilience.

Achieving a true net-zero future requires decarbonising every link in the power value chain, from raw materials to the grid.

Researchers in Brazil tested second-life polycrystalline PV modules for two years and found they retained 87–88% of their original power, with minimal degradation and stable performance. Despite strong sustainability and circular economy benefits, economic incentives remain limited due to the declining cost and short warranties of new state-of-the-art silicon PV modules.

Industrial energy procurement has broadened in scope. Tariffs remain an important part of the decision, alongside a wider set of considerations. Buyers now weigh reliability, predictability, sustainability, and long-term exposure alongside price.

Malaysia’s rising power demand, driven by industrial growth and data centers, is exposing grid and capacity constraints, prompting policies like Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS) to enable corporate renewable procurement while maintaining system cost recovery. A key factor is the System Access Charge (SAC), whose uncertain future trajectory affects long-term solar PPAs and investment decisions, making scenario-based modelling crucial for assessing project bankability.