Why in news?
In July 2025, India commissioned its first indigenously developed 1‑megawatt green hydrogen plant at Deendayal Port in Kandla, Gujarat. The project marks a milestone in the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the country’s effort to decarbonise its maritime sector.
Background
Hydrogen produced through electrolysis using renewable energy is termed “green” because it emits no carbon dioxide. India launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023 to promote domestic manufacturing of electrolyzers and support the adoption of hydrogen in transport, industry and power. Ports are strategic sites for demonstrating hydrogen applications because they handle heavy equipment and logistics.
Project details
- The 1 MW plant is part of a planned 10 MW project. It uses indigenously manufactured electrolyzers to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.
- The facility was executed by the Deendayal Port Authority in collaboration with engineering firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Construction was completed in just four months.
- Initially it will produce about 140 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Subsequent phases will add 5 MW by the end of the financial year and reach 10 MW by mid‑2026.
- The hydrogen will power a fleet of 11 buses and street lighting at the port as a pilot project. Eventually, the aim is to run port operations entirely on green hydrogen.
Significance
- This is the first hydrogen plant located at an Indian port, signalling a shift toward cleaner maritime logistics.
- The project demonstrates India’s capability to design and build complex clean‑energy systems domestically, advancing the goal of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Green hydrogen reduces reliance on fossil fuels and helps India move toward its net‑zero emissions target.
Conclusion
By commissioning a green hydrogen plant at a port, India is charting a course toward sustainable maritime transport. Scaling up such projects will be vital to meeting the country’s clean‑energy ambitions.