Global majors to power Tamil Nadu's Rs 42K crore green hydrogen hub

Firms may soon get formal letter of award for South India's only hydrogen hub at VOC Port; Pilot project to be operational by mid-February

Four global majors — Malaysian government-owned oil and gas giant Petronas-backed Amplus Ganges Solar, Singapore’s state-run energy firm Sembcorp Industries’ Green Infra Renewable Energy, Gurugram-based Acme Green Hydrogen and Chemicals, and ReNew Energy’s subsidiary ReNew E-Fuels — are set to propel India’s green hydrogen ambitions in South India. The hub, located at VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, is projected to attract an investment of Rs 41,860 crore in its first phase, with commissioning slated for 2028, according to a source familiar with the development. 

As a technology demonstrator, the port will commission a green hydrogen plant by mid-February, with an expected daily production capacity of 8 kilograms (kg) of green hydrogen. One of the industry majors mentioned confirmed to Business Standard that the Government of India is likely to issue a formal letter of award in February, with the project expected to be operational within 36 months thereafter.

  The Thoothukudi initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to establish three green hydrogen hubs across India: Deendayal Port in Kandla, Gujarat, serving the West; Paradip Port in Odisha for the East; and Thoothukudi for the South. Of these, Kandla and Thoothukudi are likely to take off first. The companies allotted land in Kandla include L&T Energy Green Tech, Welspun New Energy, AM Green Hydrogen, and Reliance Green Hydrogen and Green Chemicals.

  “We are in an advanced stage and have already allotted 501 acres of land to four firms. The first phase of green hydrogen production is expected to commence by 2028,” said Susanta Kumar Purohit, chairperson of the VOC Port Authority.

Green hydrogen hubs are central to the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to promote large-scale production and use of hydrogen.

  “The Government of India has also allocated funds to set up a bunkering facility, which will be ready by December 2025. As a technology demonstrator, our port is establishing a green hydrogen plant, set for commissioning by mid-February. This facility will produce around 8 kg of green hydrogen daily, offering valuable insights into production, storage, and transportation,” Purohit added.

  The green hydrogen ecosystem is expected to bring in investments of Rs 50,000 crore to the port area, excluding renewable energy-related investments.

  Purohit also noted that the port plans to generate 8 megawatt (Mw) of renewable power — 6 Mw from solar and 2 Mw from wind. “This will enable the port to meet its entire energy requirements through renewable sources,” he said.

  Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy.

  According to the road map unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, requiring an estimated investment of $100 billion. The three hydrogen hubs will be critical to achieving this target.

   

 

Pointers

• Expected investment in Thoothukudi hydrogen hub
• Renew E-Fuels: Rs 400 crore for Green ammonia storage
• Acme Green Hydrogen and Chemicals: Rs 27,000 crore for Green Ammonia plant and storage/energy 
• Green Indra Renewable Energy Farms(Sembcorp) : Rs 8,460 crore for Green ammonia plant and storage 
• Amplus Ganges Solar (Petronas): Rs 6,000 crore for Green ammonia storage 
• Rs 41,860 crore: Total investment in first phase