GAIL (Gas Authority of India Ltd) inaugurated its first green hydrogen plant in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, marking a significant milestone in the shift towards new and alternative energy sources, in line with the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The plant was inaugurated by the Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Pankaj Jain, and GAIL Chairman and Managing Director, Sandeep Gupta.
According to GAIL, the Green Hydrogen plant can produce 4.3 TPD (tons per day) of hydrogen using 10MW PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) Electrolyzer units, which electrolyze water using renewable power. The hydrogen produced will have a purity of 99.999% (by volume) and will be generated at a pressure of 30 Kg/cm².
Initially, the hydrogen produced from this plant will be used as a fuel along with natural gas for various processes and equipment in the existing plant at Vijaipur. Subsequently, the hydrogen is planned to be distributed to retail customers in nearby areas and transported through high-pressure cascades.
GAIL also announced plans to source renewable power through open access and is setting up approximately 20 MW of solar power plants at Vijaipur, both ground-mounted and floating, to meet the green power requirements for the 10 MW PEM Electrolyzer.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission, a flagship initiative of the Government of India, aims to foster the development and adoption of green hydrogen technologies in the country. With a target of establishing 5 million tonnes of annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030, the mission represents a significant step towards realizing India’s ambitions in the hydrogen economy.
The government has made substantial progress, awarding tenders for incentives to support the production of 412,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per annum. Additionally, tenders have been awarded for the establishment of electrolyzer manufacturing capacity amounting to 1,500 MW per annum, further strengthening India’s ability to produce green hydrogen at scale.
