By: Rahul Koul
Last updated : May 26, 2025 10:29 am
Renewable energy offers a promising path to cut costs and emissions, but challenges like high upfront investment, grid integration, and technology adoption remain key hurdles
With growing focus on decarbonization, the chemical industry is undergoing a transformative shift—embracing renewable energy, boosting energy efficiency, and adopting greener technologies. This transition is not only essential for environmental sustainability but also key to long-term competitiveness and resilience in a rapidly evolving global market.
Leading industry experts discussed the latest scenario at the sixth session, 'Renewable Energy: Energy Efficiency and Greening Chemical Industry’ at the maiden edition of Chem & Petchem Conference 2025 organized by the Indian Chemical News on May 8-9, 2025 at Baruch in Gujarat.
The session was moderated by Sehul Bhatt, Director- Research, Crisil Intelligence who outlined how the Indian chemical industry is at a turning point, with renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green technologies driving its shift toward a more sustainable future.
Experts speaks:
Sandip Parekh, Vice President, Dahej Industries Association and Zone Operations Head, Aarti Industries
“Renewable energy sources come with low operations and maintenance costs as compared to fossil fuels. Solar, hydro and other other Also, the renewable energy price is not affected by market fluctuations and geo-political situation. The cost effectiveness is significant and the reliability has improved a lot in terms of solar, wind and hydro energy. In terms of grid integration, there are rapid power ups and downs when there are fossil fuels whereas renewables are easy to manage as we can consistently connect with grids. At Aarti Industries, we have used 13 megawatt renewable energy in the last fiscal year and our Purchase Power Price has reduced by 30 percent. Our company’s board has approved setting up of a 25 megawatt plant by 2025-26. In terms of challenges for adoption of bio feedstocks, the availability and complexities involved in production of biofuels needs to be addressed. The other challenges are the cost and emissions. It is very difficult to convert fossil fuels into biofuels but strategic partnership between farmers, producers can help in this. We have done it at Aarti and received the International Sustainability Certificate (ISCC) certificate for recycle based chemistry and biofuels. A lot of new opportunities are coming up in renewables such as battery storage and the new chemicals required for it. The use of artificial intelligence in building smart batteries. Similarly, for green hydrogen there are different electrolysis. This is a new era that requires a lot of new chemicals and we at Aarti are also a part of it.”
Darshak. D. Vaishnav, Additional General Manager & Site Head, TDI-II, GNFC
“The driving force behind renewable energy is climate change and it is a real threat faced by the entire world. However, there are many challenges such as we get variability in output as wind energy is dependent on season and same for solar that we just get in the day time only. While the manufacturing of solar cells doesn't emit CO2 from an operating point of view, there might be environmental challenges that we might not be aware of yet. We installed 21 megawatt wind capacity in 2017, 10 megawatt solar capacity at Baruch facility in 2020 and 4 megawatt at Dahej facility commissioned in 2024. While it is the installed capacity, we get the output only up to a maximum of 25%. Companies will have to go for captive power generations as they might not have the space for solar and wind energy generation. We have installed 300 kilowatt solar panels at our corporate office but cost is a huge challenge. Another challenge is the mishaps resulting from panels due to heavy wind. We will have to design these in a way that they should be safer and regular checking on rooftops to control damages. Bio-based solids are also an option but these are in the developmental stage. We have to be judicious in using whatever renewable energy we are using and must also have the co-operative spirit and nation first approach that will drive the nation forward. We use grey hydrogen for systems of ammonia and are exploring about 5 megawatt electrolyzer at initial phase but there is a long way. For green hydrogen, we are still in a learning phase.”
Bishwajeet Bose, Vice President – Business Development, Witmans Industries
“In earlier days, there used to be oil conservation awareness campaigns for farmers and industries to save oil. Those days oil quality was not so good and engines used to choke in adverse climates. For 35 years, there has been a quest for energy alternatives and it continues now. From solar cookers to talk of nuclear energy, we have been looking at options extensively. I feel solar energy is the way forward as it can be an effective alternative until we find other viable options. Biogas is another option that could be considered but scaling it has been a big challenge. Again the Indian Solar Alliance conceived by Indians is now accepted world over. It is doing a good job on the ground. I am sure the efforts that were taken and are now being taken now are quantitative and impact will be felt in the next 5 years. The maintenance and installation cost of solar panels are acting deterrents for full adoption. If that part is well taken care of then we can perhaps have a rapid adoption. In terms of regulations, the REACH in Europe is a bit tough nut to crack but we are managing it for now. Going forward, the certification across various countries will become even stricter in the coming years, leading to an increase in the cost, eventually to be borne by the customers. When we talk about renewable options, cost will remain a challenge for now. Being an import dependent nation, the outgoing foreign exchange is higher, we must also have a regulation that ensures the quality, and other aspects.”
The Chem & Petchem Conference 2025 themed 'Viksit Gujarat: Visit Bharat@2047’ witnessed massive attendance by leading industry experts and stakeholders across Gujarat and India. The 12 sessions at the two day event were attended by a total of 76 speakers and more than 600 delegates.
The conference was supported by Academia partner - Somaiya Vidyavihar University; Platinum partners -- PremierTech Systems & Automation, ABB India, and Netradyne; Gold partners - Tvarit GmbH (Germany), SNF Flopam India, Alleima India, AMETEK Land Instruments International, BEIL, UPL University of Sustainable Technology, Forbes Marshall, Utthunga Technology, Syinfotech, Servilink Systems, Graphite India, Thermax, Gem Machinery & Allied Industries and Thermax; Associate partners - Diyani Automation, Flaminia Ecarb India, LAPP India, Goodrich Gasket, and GD Waldner; Industry Association partners - Gujarat Chemical Association (GCA), Jhagadia Industries Association (JIA), Dahej Industries Association (DIA) and Alkali Manufacturers Association of India (AMAI).