In what could be termed as a big move for India’s renewable energy, the country’s leading solar EPC and electric mobility player Gensol Engineering, in consortium with green hydrogen infrastructure developer Matrix Gas & Renewables, has emerged as the winner of India’s first biomass-to-green hydrogen project. The winning consortium was the lowest bidder for the Rs 164 crore initiative, which proves to be a major leap forward towards India’s transition to a sustainable future.
Overview of Project: Biomass to Green Hydrogen
It comprises a 25 TPD bio-waste processing plant, with production of 1 TPD of green hydrogen. More especially, this is the first project in India dealing with biomass as feedstock for green hydrogen production-one of the major vectors on which the world is focusing toward a world free from fossil fuel.
It involves a patented, approved technology of Westinghouse-PIRETECH that is state-of-the-art for the industry and is already deployed in various facilities around the world. The new gasification technique can convert bio-waste into hydrogen with high economics in an environmentally friendly way, enabling agricultural waste and other organic wastes with simultaneous production of clean energy.
Agreement and Innovation of Technology
Gensol Engineering has signed a strategic alliance with Westinghouse, USA, for bringing this advanced technology to India. In the process, the consortium would be empowered to leverage on the proven efficiency and reliability of Westinghouse’s gasification process to ensure success of the project.
Ironically, it was only last week that Anmol Singh Jaggi, the Chairman and Managing Director of Gensol Engineering, visited this site and had averred with pride, “We are fully committed to ensuring that the highest standards of quality and efficiency would be maintained in this landmark project execution.” Considering that the success of this venture is truly going to break open the floodgates for this new genre of biomass-to-green hydrogen projects globally, let alone India, it becomes pretty imperative.
The project also underlines continued cooperation between Gensol Engineering and Matrix Gas & Renewables, both promoted by common stakeholders. The two companies are expected to continue their collaboration in projects other than this and foray into green hydrogen derivatives such as green steel and green ammonia. These derivatives form the critical elements in decarbonizing industrial processes that would, in turn, further India’s climate objectives.
Green Hydrogen in India: The Future
This will be a pioneering project; it will contribute significantly to shaping the future of green hydrogen in the country. The initiative of converting bio-waste into hydrogen would help in constructing an ecosystem of sustainable energy, right from waste management to providing sustainable energy. Green hydrogen-derive from renewable resources such as biomass-is considered one of the main ways to cut carbon emissions from transport, industry, and energy storage.
The Government of India has ambitious targets for the adoption of green hydrogen as part of its overall thrust on addressing climate change. Under the National Hydrogen Mission, it is expected that India will become a global hub for the production and export of green hydrogen. Success with this biomass-to-green hydrogen project will be an important test case with respect to the viability of organic waste as feedstock for large-scale hydrogen production.
Contribution of Bio-Waste to Feasible Energy
Conversion of bio-waste into green hydrogen-a very important phase of circular economics-waste materials are utilized for creating something worthwhile. It will not only reduce the environmental impact caused by waste but will add to energy source diversification, developing a resilient and sustainable energy grid.
This will confer a dual benefit on projects like this: a solution to the waste problem in a sustainable manner and a clean and renewable form of energy. If replicated effectively in this project, such technologies can be taken up by similar regions within the country, further pushing the goals of renewable energy in India.
Conclusion: A Milestone for India’s Energy Transition
A consortium of Gensol Engineering with Matrix Gas & Renewables has been selected for India’s first biomass-to-green hydrogen project-a key milestone in the journey of the country towards renewable energy. Advanced technology and strategic collaborations will, therefore, be adopted to offer a sustainable and resilient energy future for the country.
Indeed, this initiative shows the great potential of green hydrogen and highlights the roles that innovation and partnerships can play in leading to the energy transition. The project, in its progress, will be eyed by industry stakeholders and policymakers alike, with its success perhaps dictating the scale of future renewable energy projects in India and globally.
Source and Credits
This article is based on the presentations given by Gensol Engineering and Matrix Gas & Renewables.