Inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the facility in Gorakhpur represents a significant stride for both the private sector and the government's ambitious Green Hydrogen Policy 2024, which targets 1 million tonnes of annual production by 2028.
In a landmark step toward India's clean energy future, the Torrent Group has launched the first green hydrogen plant in Uttar Pradesh, a project poised to be a game-changer for the state's decarbonisation efforts.
The new plant, a joint venture between Torrent Power and Torrent Gas, boasts a capacity of 72 tonnes per year. Its primary function is to blend green hydrogen—produced via the electrolysis of water using renewable energy—into the city's existing gas distribution network at concentrations of up to 2%. This blended gas will be supplied to households, industries, and CNG stations throughout the city, marking India's largest hydrogen-natural gas blending project within a city gas distribution (CGD) network to date. The initiative is a practical, scalable model for reducing carbon emissions and accelerating the adoption of green fuels in daily life.
Speaking at the inauguration, CM Adityanath hailed green hydrogen as the "energy of the future," emphasizing its vital role in minimizing carbon emissions and improving public health. He highlighted Uttar Pradesh's "abundant water resources" as a key advantage, positioning the state to become a major hub for green hydrogen production. The state's 2024 policy offers a range of incentives to attract investments, including capital subsidies of up to 40% for the first five projects, and 100% exemptions on electricity duty and stamp duty for land.
The Gorakhpur project aligns with the broader goals of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to achieve 5 million tonnes of production annually by 2030. This national mission, with a substantial outlay of Rs. 19,744 crore, seeks to position India as a global leader in green hydrogen production and export. The mission includes programs like Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) to incentivize domestic manufacturing and production, as well as pilot projects in sectors like steel, mobility, and shipping.
The Gorakhpur plant and Uttar Pradesh's policy framework are instrumental in creating an early market for green hydrogen. While the initial scale is modest, these blending projects are crucial for building the necessary infrastructure and creating demand, which will drive down production costs over time. Torrent Group Director Jinal Mehta noted that the project is a milestone in the company's long-term vision of establishing large-scale green hydrogen facilities to support India's energy transition and net-zero goals.
