According to a July 21 business filing, Larsen & Toubro subsidiary L&T Energy GreenTech would establish India’s first green hydrogen facility at Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery in Haryana on a build-own-operate basis.
25-Year Deal to Supply 10,000 Tonnes Annually to IOC
An important step in India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, the plant will run continuously on renewable energy to provide 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen to IOC annually for 25 years. Additionally, this supports India’s net-zero goals and fits with IOC’s plan to decarbonise refining processes.
High-pressure alkaline electrolysers manufactured at L&T Electrolysers in Hazira will be used in the plant to produce green hydrogen. The action positions LTEG as a major participant in the green hydrogen ecosystem and establishes a standard for widespread industrial usage in fertilisers, refineries, and other industries.
According to L&T President and Deputy Managing Director Subramaniam Sarma, the project strengthens LTEG’s capacity to provide extensive sustainable energy solutions while also strengthening the company’s relationship with IOC.
IOC Enters Green Hydrogen Space with Ambitious Project
In essence, green hydrogen is the gas created when water is split using renewable energy sources. The project is the biggest green hydrogen project in India to date and represents IOC’s first foray into the green hydrogen market.
The green hydrogen generated here will substitute hydrogen sourced from fossil fuels in IOC’s refinery operations, lowering carbon emissions. The project is expected to be put into service by December 2027.
Timeline and Background: From Cancelled Tenders to Execution
Due to the industry’s lack of interest in moving forward with the project, IOC had previously cancelled two tenders. At the desire of the participating companies, the deadline was twice extended to January 2025 after the tender was initially published in September 2024. “This project demonstrates our complete green energy capabilities, from the production of electrolysers to their implementation and operation.
“We are confident in delivering a high-performance, zero-emission plant that sets new industry benchmarks thanks to our skilled team and state-of-the-art technology,” stated Derek Shah, Head of Green Manufacturing & Development at L&T.
Other Players Fueling India’s Green Hydrogen Revolution
The renewable energy-focused ACME Group announced in June that it would construct a green hydrogen plant in the Tata Steel Special Economic Zone (Tata SEZ) in the Gopalpur Industrial Estate of Odisha, with the goal of producing 400,000 tonnes of green ammonia by 2029. In order to deliver all 400,000 tonnes of green ammonia produced from the facility starting in 2029, the business has teamed with IHI Corporation of Japan.
In June, Toyota Kirloskar Motor also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ohmium International, a top supplier of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) based in Newark, California. The two companies will work together to develop hydrogen-based solutions by combining Toyota’s PEM fuel cell modules with Ohmium’s state-of-the-art PEM electrolysers, as well as to explore possible partnership opportunities to harmonise advanced fuel cell technology with Ohmium’s hyper-modular and efficient system designs.
Government Backing: Policy, Funding, and Trials Underway
Green hydrogen is thought to be essential to India’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. Prahlad Joshi, the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, and Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, officially opened Tata Motors’ first-ever testing of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles in New Delhi in March.
With INR 500 crore set aside for this purpose, the government intends to encourage hydrogen fuel trials, with cooperation from businesses like Ashok Leyland, Volvo, Reliance, and Hindustan Petroleum, among others.
The first hydrogen-powered truck in India, which can transport 40 tonnes of freight over a 200-kilometer radius, was used for mining operations in Chhattisgarh, the Adani Group announced on 10 May.
As part of its efforts to promote cleaner transportation, the group’s flagship company, Adani Enterprises, waved off hydrogen fuel cell trucks. In addition, the corporation stated in its official statement that the diesel trucks utilised in its logistics operations will eventually be replaced by these hydrogen-powered trucks.
Adani is working with a major automaker and an Indian and foreign energy technology company to build vehicles that run on hydrogen fuel cell batteries for cargo transportation. With three hydrogen tanks and clever technology, each truck can transport up to 40 tonnes of cargo across a 200-kilometre distance.
CM Vishnu Deo Sai Flagged Off the Truck
In Raipur, Vishnu Deo Sai, the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, waved off the first truck. Coal will be transported to the state power plant via it from the Gare Pelma III Block. According to Sai, Chhattisgarh’s introduction of the nation’s first hydrogen-powered truck is a testament to the state’s dedication to sustainability.
The state’s carbon footprint will be greatly reduced by such activities, which will also establish new industry standards. In addition to being at the forefront of supplying the nation’s electrical needs, Chhattisgarh sets the standard for sustainable operations. Adani Enterprises was chosen following a competitive bidding procedure to be the mine developer and operator for the Gare Pelma III block by the state-owned Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited.
He continued by saying that the Adani Group’s commitment to decarbonisation and ethical mining is demonstrated by the plan for hydrogen-powered trucks. By using solar energy, digital projects, autonomous dozer push technology, and tree transplanters to move trees, the state government is building model mines with less environmental impact.
According to Vinay Prakash, CEO of Natural Resources and Director of Adani Enterprises, the company wants to set new benchmarks for sustainable mining methods while ensuring that everyone has access to cheap, dependable electricity.
Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL) and Adani Natural Resources (ANR) collaborated on the project. Adani Enterprises is the parent company of both organisations. ANR will purchase hydrogen cells from ANIL, a company that also produces wind turbines, solar modules, batteries, and green hydrogen.
Hydrogen Most Environment Friendly Option
The most prevalent element, hydrogen, emits no toxic gases. In terms of range and load capacity, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are comparable to diesel trucks; however, they produce only warm air and water vapour with little noise. Because most mining equipment runs on diesel, using cleaner fuels will cut down on noise and pollutants.
Additionally, it will lessen India’s carbon footprint and oil imports. According to the statement, Adani Natural Resources is the first company in Asia to implement Dozer Push Semi-Autonomous Technology, which will increase sustainability and safety. Coal, minerals, and metals are produced and processed by ANR for use by businesses and end consumers.
Its varied business portfolio includes liquified petroleum gas, rock phosphate, iron ore, copper, aluminium, minerals, bunkering, and integrated resources management.
As the world is continuously scouting for other sustainable forms of energy, India is also shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy. According to a report in Invest India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, The REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report ranks India as the fourth largest installed renewable energy capacity worldwide, considering both large hydro and solar power. The country also ranks fourth in wind power and solar power. At COP26, the country increased its initial goal to 500 GW of energy derived from sources other than fossil fuels by 2030. A fundamental promise under the Panchamrit has been this. When it comes to sustainable energy, this is the granddaddy of them all.
As of November 2023, India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity—which includes large hydro and nuclear—was over 179.57 GW, or 42% of the country’s total capacity, a growth of 396% in the past 8.5 years. In 2022, renewable energy additions in India increased by 9.83% year-on-year, the greatest growth rate. With a 30x increase in the past nine years, the installed solar energy capacity reached 74.30 GW in January 2024. According to the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), India’s solar power capacity might reach 748 GWp. Since 2014, there has been an approximately 128% growth in the installed capacity of renewable energy sources, including big hydro.
In its consolidated report, IBEF, an arm of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, India, is anticipated to experience the highest increase in energy demand over the next several decades due to its massive size and immense potential for development and progress. Hence, renewable, low-carbon energy sources must account for this additional demand. The statement by India that it plans to reach zero net carbon emissions by 2070 and get half of its power from renewable sources by 2030 is a watershed moment in the fight against climate change.
The sector is now more appealing to investors thanks to the government’s enhanced backing and better economics. With an anticipated energy demand of 15,820 TWh by 2040, India is determined to meet its energy needs independently. Renewable energy sources are poised to play a significant role in this endeavour.
How India’s Largest Solar Park Will Power The Entire World!
Government Pushing The Innovation
Achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070; decrease the carbon intensity of the nation’s economy by 45 per cent by the end of the decade; and cut India’s total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion metric tonnes by 2030. These are a few set goals that the current government is working on. Apart from these, Solar City plans to install 57 solar parks with a combined capacity of 39.28 GW around the country, another mega project in the pipeline.
Flexing its innovative muscle, the centre also supports floating PV projects, giving the entire solar concept a technological twist. With an initial budget of 19,744 Cr (INR 17,490 Cr for the SIGHT programme, 1,466 Cr for pilot projects, 400 Cr for research and development, and 388 Cr for other components of the Mission), The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet. The respective medium- and long-term objectives aim to increase offshore wind power capacity by 5 GW by 2022 and 30 GW by 2030.
To better use transmission infrastructure and land, the government adopted policies in 2018 to encourage a large-scale grid-connected wind-solar PV hybrid system. Combining renewable energy sources like solar and wind can improve grid stability and mitigate the issue of intermittent power generation. With this, you can mix and match wind and solar power in a hybrid project, but remember that each resource’s capacity needs to be at least 25% of the total rated power.
Floating PV Panels to Enhance Renewable Energy Production
Though this concept is not new, it is catching up in India. One kind of solar power generator that may be placed on the water is floatovoltaics, which is another name for floating solar. On a solid base, they stand. Pontoons, capable of floating while carrying huge loads, serve as floats for the floating PV system, which differs from those used in solar PV plants. Floating floatovoltaics systems rely on several components—modules, converters, cables, anchoring systems, and more—to ensure proper operation.
Floatovoltaics provides a broader variety of energy savings than solar PV systems. This is because the water beneath the floating PV is a cooling device. The theory goes that keeping the water beneath the floats from evaporating too much will lessen the likelihood of a drought in that region. Small bodies of water are generally underutilised, but this helps to change that. Because algae can be toxic to aquatic life, this helps bring the algae levels down in bodies of water.
Floating PV plants allow for better water and land management than solar PV plants. When considering how to make the most of limited resources, FPV is an excellent option. In the right hands, it can also positively impact the environment. When harnessing the sun’s energy, it also outperforms solar PV plants.
Solar Energy Capacity in India
National Green Hydrogen Mission Acting as A Catalyst
At now, India’s annual energy import expenditure exceeds $160 billion. These imports are projected to quadruple within fifteen years without corrective measures. India is poised to become a world leader in environmentally friendly hydrogen now that the National Hydrogen Mission has been approved. An initial budget of 19,744 crore rupees will cover the Mission’s various components, with 17,490 crores going towards The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme, 1,466 crores towards pilot projects, 400 crores towards research and development, and 388 crores towards other costs. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will create the scheme’s implementation instructions for each component.
Hydrogen, an element with applications in the electrical, thermal, and nuclear domains, is among the most abundant in nature. Different kinds of hydrogen energy exist, such as grey and blue. However, “Green Hydrogen Production” refers to making hydrogen energy using renewable energy sources and water sourced sustainably. Green hydrogen has swiftly gained favour due to its ability to emit negligible amounts of greenhouse gases.
Given the current climate, India may become an important export hub for environmentally friendly hydrogen products. The nation has a lot going for it when it comes to renewable energy: plenty of area to spread it out, a trained workforce, and cheap power. This sets it apart from many industrialised economies.
India may earn much money from its green hydrogen derivatives if it sells them abroad at reasonable prices. This will eventually make it easier to build up green hydrogen infrastructure. Establishing internationally accepted standards for the export of green hydrogen derivatives could guarantee that buyers get high-quality goods. Stakeholders can exploit India’s export potential by building bunkering facilities and port infrastructure and negotiating bilateral arrangements with countries that could import goods.
What renewable energy sources are leading India’s growth?
Solar power is leading the way, with a 30x increase in installed capacity in the past nine years. Wind power is also significant, and India ranks fourth globally in solar and wind power capacity.
How is the government supporting the growth of renewable energy?
The government provides financial backing, improved regulations, and missions like the Solar City plan to create large-scale solar parks.
What is India’s target for renewable energy capacity?
India aims to reach 500 GW of energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. This ambitious target is part of the country’s commitment to fight climate change.
