A mid-term review by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on associated infrastructure projects under the ministry and subordinate organizations’ ambit, was undertaken.
“The development of green ports, green shipping, green park, all these kinds of issues have been taken up today…again for the hydrogen park, we are proceeding with Kandla port in Gujarat,” said Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in a press briefing on Friday.
As per the outcome from the mid-term review, Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla is setting up green hydrogen hubs in which the port has received responses from 13 prospective developers against global Expression of Interest. A total of more than 7 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonne Per Annum) capacity green Ammonia production has been offered by prospective developers.
Earlier in the month, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, Statkraft entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deendayal Port Authority for production of green hydrogen at the port.
On the other hand, VO Chidambaranar Port Authority in Tamil Nadu has earmarked 500 acres of land for green hydrogen hub and has signed a MoU with NTPC Green Energy Ltd for installation of Green Hydrogen/ Derivative Production Facility.
Additionally, proposal for grant for developing the common infrastructure to support the green hydrogen projects have been submitted to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
In the recently held Global Maritime India Summit, MoUs worth more than Rs. 10 lakh crores have been signed, wherein MoUs related to green initiatives were worth Rs. 3.8 lakh crores.
The VO Chidambaranar Port Authority in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu has earmarked 500 acres of land for setting up a green hydrogen hub. It has also signed an MoU with NGEL (Subsidiary of NTPC) for installation of green hydrogen or derivative production facility.
A proposal for grant for developing the common infrastructure to support the green hydrogen projects has been submitted to MNRE, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said, post a mid-term review of the activities of the Ministry.
Ministry officials said, investments worth ₹100,00 crore are expected in the coming days across green hydrogen projects earmarked in the port.
In VO Chidambarnar Port, around 224 acres of land have already been leased to ACME Cleantech Solutions to generate green hydrogen and green ammonia. Investments are expected to be over ₹52,000 crore, sources said
Apart from Tuticorin port, Kandla port in Gujarat (also called Deendayal Port Authority) is setting up green hydrogen storage facilities. It has received “prominent responses” from 13 prospective developers against Global EoIs, Sonowal said adding that more than 7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of green ammonia production capacity has been offered across interested parties.
“The offered development will cater to the domestic and international demand of 1.4 MTPA of green hydrogen,” the Minister said.
So far, the Ministry has identified three ports to set up the green hydrogen bunkers — for storage, handling and generations – and these include Paradip Port (Odisha), Deendayal Port (Gujarat) and VO Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu).
Across the three ports, a landlord model will be followed; where port authorities will have ownership of the land, while there will be common infrastructure developed by private companies.
The hydrogen storage, production and sale modalities will be taken care of by private players.
“By 2047, all major ports (run by the Ministry) will have green hydrogen bunkering facilities. Ports have been asked to carry out studies and identify land parcels,” the official said.
Typically, to set up a one million tonne per annum green hydrogen plant, the land requirement is around 300 acres.
In Kolkata port non-contiguous land parcels and small plots have been identified; while JNPT in Mumbai is still in the process of identifying land.
“So either ports acquire additional land or we (Centre) will approach the State governments seeking land to set up bunkering and storage facilities,” the official said.
