Updated: June 24, 2025
By Uma Gupta, Senior Energy Correspondent
Uma Gupta has covered renewable energy developments across Asia for over a decade, contributing to peer-reviewed journals and interviewed leading experts in clean technology.
![Solar panels and hydrogen facility]
Image: A solar-powered hydrogen production unit in Gujarat (sourced from Unsplash)
Key Takeaways
- First of its kind: Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL) has commissioned India’s inaugural off-grid 5 MW green hydrogen pilot plant in Kutch, Gujarat. economictimes.indiatimes.compv-magazine.com
- Renewable-only power: The plant runs entirely on solar energy with integrated battery storage, eliminating dependence on the conventional grid. pv-magazine.com
- National mission aligned: This project supports India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets 5 million tonnes annual green hydrogen production by 2030. belfercenter.org
- Scalable model: Off-grid design offers a blueprint for decarbonizing remote industrial hubs and hard-to-reach locations.
Why It Matters
India’s energy sector is at a crossroads. With coal still supplying over 70% of electricity, the shift to renewables—and especially green hydrogen—could drastically cut carbon emissions in heavy industries like steel and fertilizer production. By going off-grid, ANIL showcases a scalable, decentralized approach that bypasses transmission losses and grid bottlenecks.
Expert Insights
“Off-grid green hydrogen is a game-changer for industrial decarbonization,” says Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Senior Scientist at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). “It not only reduces emissions but also enhances energy security for remote manufacturing units.”
Dr. Kumar’s assessment is backed by the Belfer Center’s recent analysis, which highlights that decentralized hydrogen plants can reduce overall production costs by up to 20% when paired with localized renewables. belfercenter.org
How It Works
- Solar Array: A 25 MW solar farm captures sunlight.
- Battery Storage: Lithium-ion batteries provide 4 hours of backup.
- Electrolyzer Unit: Water is split into hydrogen and oxygen through proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis.
- Hydrogen Output: Up to 5 MW equivalent hydrogen, stored on-site or transported to nearby industries.
What Happens Next?
- Scale-Up Plans: ANIL aims to expand capacity to 50 MW by 2027.
- Policy Support: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has earmarked ₹20,000 crore for off-grid hydrogen projects under its National Green Hydrogen Mission.
- Industry Adoption: Steelmakers like Jindal Stainless are in advanced talks to offtake hydrogen from the Kutch plant for pilot trials.
Fact-Check
| Claim | Verification |
|---|---|
| “Off-grid plants aren’t reliable during monsoon.” | Monsoon-proof solar panels and battery backups ensure >95% uptime even during June–September rains. |
| “Green hydrogen is more expensive than grey.” | Current costs stand at $5.5–$7.3/kg vs. $1.0–$1.8/kg for grey, but subsidies and scale-up aim to close this gap by 2030. orfamerica.org |
Daily Digest: Green Hydrogen Watch
- June 25, 2025: Indian Oil’s Panipat 10 ktpa green hydrogen plant ground-breaking ceremony.
- June 27, 2025: TERI releases a white paper on decentralized hydrogen markets.
- July 1, 2025: MNRE to host an international summit on green hydrogen exports.
