As India’s food and beverage industry grapples with operational losses from power disruptions and tightening global green compliance norms, energy storage is emerging as a strategic enabler of sustainable manufacturing.
In a significant development, CMIL has partnered with GoodEnough Energy to install a 2 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at its Greater Noida manufacturing facility. The deployment positions CMIL as the first food and beverage manufacturer in the Delhi NCR region to adopt advanced liquid-cooled BESS technology for green manufacturing operations.
BESS as a Strategic Manufacturing Asset
The newly commissioned 2 MWh system comprises eight 250 kWh battery units distributed across CMIL’s production facilities. The installation ensures uninterrupted power supply to critical operations, including Spray Drying units, Extrusion lines, and Roasting systems—processes highly sensitive to voltage fluctuations and outages.
Frequent 2–3 hour daily power cuts had previously compelled the company to rely on diesel generators, impacting both cost efficiency and environmental compliance. With BESS integration, CMIL aims to eliminate diesel dependency, reduce downtime, and secure international green certifications required for exports.
The company plans to scale its battery storage capacity to 5 MWh over the next three years, aligning with its long-term sustainability roadmap and export ambitions.
Enabling Export Competitiveness Through Energy Storage
As global markets such as the UK and US tighten environmental norms and carbon compliance standards, energy reliability and green certification have become critical entry requirements.
Deepak, Managing Director of CMIL, stated:
“As India emerges as the food basket of the world, sustainable manufacturing is critical. This partnership with GoodEnough Energy is a transformative step toward green production, ensuring power reliability and opening doors to international markets with stringent green compliance requirements.”
The company, operational since 1992, manufactures malt-based drinks, cereals, dairy products, and food ingredients for retail and institutional buyers, including national dairy brands, state nutrition programs, and defence establishments.
Business Case for BESS in Food Processing
According to GoodEnough Energy, the installation demonstrates the strong economic rationale for energy storage in energy-intensive food processing environments.
Adit Agarwal, Executive Director of GoodEnough Energy, said:
“CMIL’s adoption of BESS demonstrates the business case for energy storage in India’s food processing sector. The installation addresses operational efficiency, cost savings, and environmental compliance simultaneously.”
The system is projected to prevent potential losses of ₹100–150 crore over its operational lifetime, driven by reduced fuel costs, minimized production downtime, and enhanced compliance with global sustainability benchmarks.
A Sectoral Inflection Point
The deployment ranks among the largest BESS installations in India’s food manufacturing segment and signals a broader shift toward integrating energy storage into industrial sustainability strategies.
With power reliability challenges and tightening pollution norms affecting manufacturing competitiveness, CMIL’s move is expected to catalyze wider BESS adoption across India’s food and beverage sector—particularly among exporters navigating global decarbonization mandates.
