Businesses across the organization are finding biodiesel as a promising alternative to conventional fossil fuels, offering a cleaner-burning, renewable energy source that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. TI IC’s RBF SBG has followed suit by blending biodiesel with highspeed diesel (HSD) in their concerted effort to achieve carbon neutrality and advance eco-friendly fuel adoption in the transportation and construction sectors. After implementing the initiative across 5 sites, the emerging numbers are encouraging. Consumption during FY25: 126,169 litres. Emission reduction:
340 tCO₂e.

“The adoption of biodiesel across our project sites is a decisive move towards greener construction practices, reflecting our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint without compromising on operational efficiency,” highlights A Sakthivel, Head – Plant & Machinery, RBF SBG, echoing the Lakshya 2026 plan that outlines goals to improve energy efficiency by 2%–2.5% annually and increase the use of eco-friendly fuels to 5% by 2026, scaling up to 100% by 2045. “Incorporating a 10% biodiesel blend into our HSD fuel mix represents a practical and impactful approach to lowering carbon emissions without requiring major changes to existing engine infrastructure,” elaborates Jeevan Rao, Head – EHS, RBF SBG.

Overcoming challenges towards achieving their ‘green’ mission

Transitioning to biodiesel required robust management support, particularly for infrastructure upgrades such as specialized storage tanks to prevent moisture absorption and dedicated dispensing facilities. The RBF P&M team displayed significant effort to blend biodiesel in various proportions across different engines and rigorously evaluate both performance and efficiency.

“While leading OEMs like Cummins have approved up to 7% biodiesel blends (B10) for regular use, our initiative went further by adopting a highly refined biofuel that meets stringent parameters,” points out Jeevan. “Diesel generators served as ideal testing platforms, allowing us to accurately measure and compare the units produced per litre against conventional HSD under similar load conditions.”

Initial exercise at MAHSR C6, coordinated by J Vinoth, Manager (Mech) – P&M, with guidance from R Lakshmi Narayanan, Sr. DGM – P&M

“Initially, the transition began with our own equipment, as convincing hiring vendors demanded persistent efforts from the P&M team to dispel myths – especially concerns about potential fuel injection system failures,” recalls Sakthivel. “Overcoming these challenges has enabled us to advance our green mission and demonstrate the operational viability of biodiesel.”

Cracking the code

The breakthrough came with Akson Oiltech, a Surat-based supplier whose biodiesel passed the required physical trials and demonstrated superior quality. Their fuel resolved all the earlier operational issues, enabling smoother equipment function and establishing a reliable biodiesel supply initially at the MAHSR C6, Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), and CTP 3R facilities. This successful collaboration exemplifies how selecting the right vendor is vital for sustainable fuel adoption.

The initial reports from the 5 sites are that their effort is worth the while. “This strategic step is already reducing emissions and, more importantly, driving a much-needed eco-consciousness across our IC,” states Manoja Kumar Pradhan, Head – P&M, NMIA Project.

The focus and efforts of the entire RBF P&M team will be to keep a good thing growing.