BHEL, BARC come together to lower green hydrogen costs, bring down imports

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has signed a Technology Transfer Agreement with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), marking a significant step toward bolstering India’s green hydrogen capabilities. The agreement grants BHEL access to BARC’s indigenously developed Mixed-Matrix Membrane Diaphragm Technology for electrolysers.

This advanced diaphragm technology plays a crucial role in the electrolysis process, enabling the separation of hydrogen and oxygen—an essential step in green hydrogen production. Positioned as a cost-effective alternative to imported components such as Zirfon and asbestos-based diaphragms, the homegrown solution is expected to reduce costs and increase domestic self-reliance.

With this transfer, BHEL aims to design and manufacture alkaline electrolysers entirely within India. The move aligns with the government’s ‘National Green Hydrogen Mission’ and its broader ‘Make in India’ initiative, which seek to drive innovation and reduce dependency on foreign technologies in clean energy infrastructure.

While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, the partnership is expected to strengthen BHEL’s position in India’s clean energy ecosystem and pave the way for wider adoption of green hydrogen by making production technologies more accessible and affordable.

Electrolysers are vital for generating green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable electricity. The clean fuel holds transformative potential for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, fertilisers, and heavy transport.

Last year, BHEL and BARC announced that it has entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) for 50 kW alkaline electrolyser systems for Hydrogen production.

Previously, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) had also collaborated with BARC to scale-up Alkaline Electrolyser technology for Green Hydrogen production. Refineries use large quantities of Hydrogen for de-sulfurization to make petrol, diesel and other chemicals that emit high CO2 into the atmosphere directly. Therefore, Refiners are also setting up large scale electrolysers to produce Green Hydrogen from water and thereby decarbonize Hydrogen production.