India’s state-controlled natural gas firm Gail has been awarded a contract to build a 10MW proton-exchange-membrane electrolyser at the Vijaipur complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Vijaipur is run by state-owned National Fertilizers and produces 3,000t/d of ammonia via steam reforming of natural gas. The firm wants to replace some of this output with green ammonia made using green hydrogen. The electrolyser project aims to produce 4t/d of hydrogen with a high purity from November 2023 for this purpose.

Gail says the project is in line with India’s National Hydrogen Mission, which has set a target to produce 5mn t/yr of green hydrogen by 2030 and make the country a hub for the fuel.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced the mission, allocating INR250mn/yr ($3.4mn/yr) for research and development.

Earlier this year, Gail began blending a 2pc hydrogen mix in the natural gas network of the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

8.5mn t/yr – India’s hydrogen demand

“These initiatives reflect Gail’s commitment to support a gas-based economy and to contribute towards India’s vision of a greener, cleaner, carbon-neutral and self-reliant future,” the company says.

The 10MW electrolyser will be among the largest in the country. State oil firm IOC has announced plans to build a similar-size unit at its Mathura refinery that will likely be the nation’s first. IOC is also developing plans for similar projects at other refineries.

Oil firm Reliance Industries has announced it will install an electrolyser at its Jamnagar refinery. Hindustan Petroleum, a subsidiary of government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, is also planning a pilot hydrogen production programme.

Making plans

Indian energy minister Raj Kumar Singh is pushing forward plans to make the use of some green hydrogen mandatory for refineries and fertiliser plants—although the plans have yet to be passed into law.

India’s government has recently agreed to work with both Oman and Germany to develop its hydrogen economy.

India can begin to roll out green hydrogen infrastructure by replacing grey hydrogen in existing industries and concentrating transport applications in small areas, according to a study by Indian thinktank Gateway House.

The country had 8.5mn t/yr of hydrogen demand in 2021, and this is expected to rise to 9.1mn t/yr in 2022 and 11mn t/yr 2030. Ammonia production for fertilisers and desulphurisation of fuel in refineries are the two major sources of demand.

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Author: Tom Young