Rhetan TMT has commissioned its 1 MW captive solar plant at its Kadi, Gujarat facility, now generating power for its own use.

The Ahmedabad-based TMT bar maker confirmed the update this week, marking a shift toward using more renewable energy in its steel production process.

The 1 MW ground-mounted solar unit had been in the works for a while, with installation completed back in July. Getting there took two separate approvals.

The company secured registration from the Gujarat Energy Development Agency, and separately got permission from the National Highways Authority of India to lay an underground electrical cable across a national highway.

With both clearances in place, the plant is now feeding power directly into Rhetan own operations rather than into the grid. Energy costs matter a lot to a business like this.

Rhetan has said that power makes up nearly 20% of its overall cost base, a big number for a company running a rolling mill around the clock.

The solar plant is meant to cover part of that requirement, though the company hasn’t put out a figure yet for how much it expects to save.

Managing Director Shalin Shah called it an important step in strengthening the energy economics of the company’s manufacturing operations and bringing renewable power more directly into day to day production.

This isn’t an isolated move either. Just last month, Rhetan picked up Bureau of Indian Standards certification for its Fe500D, Fe550 and Fe550D grades of TMT bars.

That certification matters because it lets the company supply these higher grades to government and public sector infrastructure projects, many of which require BIS approved steel by default.

Put together, the solar commissioning and the new certifications point to the same broader goal, lowering operating costs where possible and opening up new customer segments.

For a mid-sized regional steel manufacturer, both moves are aimed at improving how competitively it can price its products over time.

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