India Commissions 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant at Kandla

DPA’s Indigenous Facility Produces 140 Tonnes Annually, Marks Major Step in India's Clean Energy Transition.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, on July 31, 2025, inaugurated a 1 megawatt (MW) Green Hydrogen Power Plant at the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat.

He described the event as a “major step toward fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s 2030 vision” under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to position India as a global hub for green hydrogen production, usage, and export.

The Prime Minister had earlier laid the foundation stone for a 10 MW Green Hydrogen Plant in Bhuj on 26 May 2025. Impressively, the 1 MW module was commissioned within just four months, setting a national benchmark for project execution speed. Shri Sonowal praised this as a model of “speed, scale, and skill,” aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030.

The fully indigenous plant, built under the Make-in-India initiative, can produce around 140 metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually. It is the first megawatt-scale hydrogen facility at any Indian port and plays a pivotal role in maritime decarbonisation and sustainable port operations.

DPA’s commitment to sustainability was previously demonstrated through the deployment of India’s first Make-in-India all-electric Green Tug.

Green hydrogen is hydrogen gas produced via electrolysis, where renewable electricity splits water (H₂O) into hydrogen and oxygen. As the process relies solely on solar, wind, or hydro energy, it results in zero carbon emissions and is critical to India’s Net Zero goals.

Applications include steel manufacturing, refineries, fertilizer production, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and energy storage.

However, several challenges exist. The current cost of green hydrogen production is USD 4–6 per kg, making it less competitive. Storage also requires high-pressure tanks or cryogenic conditions, and each kg of hydrogen demands up to 9 liters of water and 48 kWh of electricity. These hurdles highlight the need for policy intervention, low-cost electricity, and financial support through green bonds and incentives.

To overcome these, India plans to offer Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) for green steel exports, introduce Green Hydrogen Purchase Obligations (GHPO) in hard-to-abate sectors, and invest $1 billion by 2030 in technology and market development.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission, led by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, targets 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) per annum by 2030. It includes the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme, pilot projects in mobility and shipping, and the development of Green Hydrogen Hubs.

Earlier in March 2025, Shri Sonowal also flagged off Indian-made electrolysers manufactured by L&T in just three months—critical equipment for the Kandla plant. The larger 10 MW project aims to produce 18 kg of hydrogen per hour (equivalent to 80–90 tonnes annually) by July 2025.

With the commissioning of this 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant, India has signaled its readiness to lead the global green transition. This project is not only a leap toward clean energy self-reliance but also a catalyst for industrial transformation, green jobs, and sustainable development.

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