L&T Energy GreenTech to establish India’s largest green hydrogen plant in Panipat

L&T Energy GreenTech, a wholly-owned subsidiary of engineering and construction giant L&T , will set up India’s largest green hydrogen plant at Indian Oil Corporation ’s (IOCL) refinery located in Panipat, Haryana, to supply 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually to IOCL for 25 years, the company said on Monday.

The plant will be developed on a build-own-operate basis and will operate round-the-clock using renewable energy. It will produce green hydrogen using high-pressure alkaline electrolysers manufactured in L&T Electrolysers’ state-of-the-art facility in Hazira, Gujarat.

L&T Energy GreenTech is touting the plant as a precedent for the industrial-scale adoption of green hydrogen across refineries, fertiliser plants, and other hard-to-abate sectors. “The decision to set up India’s maiden green hydrogen plant validates our strategy to lead the nation’s energy transition. As a first mover in India’s green hydrogen space, we are proud to lay the foundation for cleaner industrial processes at scale,” said Subramanian Sarma, deputy managing director and president, L&T, in a statement.

In June, renewable energy-focused ACME Group said that it will build a green hydrogen project to produce 4,00,000 tonnes of green ammonia by 2029 at the Tata Steel Special Economic Zone (Tata SEZ) in Odisha’s Gopalpur Industrial Estate. The company has partnered with Japan’s IHI Corporation to supply the entire 4,00,000 tonnes of green ammonia produced from the facility from 2029.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor also signed an MoU with Newark, California-based Ohmium International, one of the leading providers of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM), in June to explore potential partnership opportunities to harmonise advanced fuel cell technology with Ohmium’s hyper-modular and efficient system designs, along with collaborating on the development of hydrogen-based solutions by integrating Toyota’s PEM fuel cell modules and Ohmium's cutting-edge PEM electrolysers. 

Green hydrogen is seen as pivotal towards India’s vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. In March, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, along with Prahlad Joshi, the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, flagged off the first-ever trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks launched by Tata Motors in New Delhi. The government plans to support hydrogen fuel trials, with ₹500 crore earmarked for this purpose, and participation from companies such as Ashok Leyland, Volvo, Reliance, Hindustan Petroleum, among others.

“Hydrogen is an important fuel for India’s transition to a sustainable and zero-carbon future. The beginning of this trial is a significant step forward in showcasing the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonising India’s transportation sector. This initiative, part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, reflects our commitment to driving innovation and achieving India’s energy independence while contributing to global climate goals,” Gadkari had said.