"Nalco aims to establish 200–300 MW of renewable energy capacity integrated with battery storage to facilitate the production of low-carbon aluminium."

State-owned National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Nalco) is transitioning its power-intensive smelting operations to renewable energy and plans to set up 200–300 MW of green power capacity supported by battery storage to ensure a reliable supply and sharply reduce its carbon footprint.

Nalco currently meets its entire power requirement through coal-based captive power plants, which account for nearly 80 per cent of the company’s total carbon emissions. The company aims to accelerate its shift towards producing green aluminium, Chairman and Managing Director Brijendra Pratap Singh said.

Power costs form a significant component of aluminium production, with the smelting process accounting for about 35–40 per cent of total production costs. Nalco currently sources electricity from its captive coal plants at ₹3–3.5 per unit, while renewable power tariffs are in the range of ₹4.5–5 per unit, Singh said.