ReNew plans green hydrogen project in Kerala worth Rs 26,400 crore

Indian renewable energy conglomerate ReNew has proposed to invest Rs 26,400 crore in a green hydrogen project that will be situated in the southern state of Kerala. The green hydrogen project would be boasting a production capacity of 220 kilo-tonnes per annum (ktpa).

This green hydrogen capacity of ReNew will subsequently facilitate the production of 1,100 ktpa of green ammonia. The project will rely on a two-GW capacity electrolyser, drawing 14,000 million units of power annually from renewable energy plants ranging from five GW to six GW.

The ReNew plant is slated to be located in Vizhinjam near its port to optimize the green hydrogen for export purposes.

The project is envisioned to unfold across three phases, with Phase-I targeting a 100 ktpa green hydrogen derivative capacity, followed by Phase-II and Phase-III, each with a capacity of 500 ktpa. The estimated timeline for each phase ranges from 36 to 42 months.

Moreover, with a water requirement nearing 50 MLD, the project by ReNew is expected to provide employment to 4,000 to 5,000 skilled and unskilled workers, along with 18,000 staff during the construction phases.

Last December, Kerala allocated Rs 0.9 billion for the first stage of its green hydrogen valley initiative and over Rs 124 billion for green transport corridor projects. The allotted Rs 0.9 billion will be used to set up three hydrogen valley platforms covering the entire hydrogen value chain, including production, distribution, and transportation. The state plans to create two green hydrogen valleys in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.

In November 2022, ReNew inked a framework agreement with Egypt to establish a green hydrogen plant within the Suez Canal Economic Zone. This project would entail an investment of $8 billion.