Context: India has commissioned its first indigenously developed 1 MW green hydrogen plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla — a key step under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Maritime India Vision 2030.

What Is It?

• A 1 megawatt green hydrogen plant — part of a proposed 10 MW project to enable clean maritime operations.
• Location: Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat — India’s first port-based hydrogen facility.

Developed By

• A fully indigenous effort under the Make-in-India initiative.
• Executed by Deendayal Port Authority in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

Technology Highlights

• Uses indigenously built electrolyzers to generate hydrogen via electrolysis powered by renewable energy.
• Showcases domestic capability in building complex clean energy systems.

Objectives

• Support India’s transition to clean fuels in maritime logistics.
• Contribute to India’s Net Zero goals.
• Align with:
  • National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023)
  • Maritime India Vision 2030

Key Features

• Construction Time: Completed in just 4 months, showcasing speed and execution efficiency.
• Production Capacity: ~140 metric tonnes/year of green hydrogen.
• Phase-wise Expansion:
  • 1 MW (commissioned)
  • 5 MW by end of FY
  • Full 10 MW capacity by mid-next fiscal
• Initial Applications:
  • Powers 11 hydrogen buses
  • Supplies energy for port street lighting
• Future Vision: Entire port operations to shift to green hydrogen.

Significance

• India’s first port-based green hydrogen facility — pioneering maritime decarbonisation.
• Reduces reliance on fossil fuels in logistics and transport.
• Promotes Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat through indigenous innovation and execution.
• Sets a replicable model for clean energy integration in other ports and industrial hubs.

Source: The Times of India |