VOC Port gets India’s first of its kind green hydrogen facility

In a landmark step towards sustainable maritime development, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the country’s first port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port.

The pilot facility, established at a cost of Rs 3.87 crore, has a capacity of 10 Nm³ per hour and will generate green hydrogen to power streetlights and an electric vehicle charging station in the port colony. With this milestone, VOC Port has become the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen.

Alongside the inauguration, the minister also laid the foundation stone for a Green Methanol Bunkering and Refuelling Facility with a capacity of 750 m³, to be constructed at an investment of Rs 35.34 crore. The project is aligned with the proposed Coastal Green Shipping Corridor between Kandla and Tuticorin and is expected to transform VOC Port into a major green bunkering hub in South India.

During the event, VOC Port signed MoUs with Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) for rail connectivity to the Outer Harbour project, and with NTPC for implementing green mobility initiatives within the port.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “The mission of Viksit Bharat at 2047 blends speed, scale, sustainability and self-reliance. The projects launched today will generate thousands of jobs, attract global investments and position Tamil Nadu as a key contributor to India’s economic aspirations. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are advancing steadily towards the goal of making India one of the world’s top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and among the top 5 by 2047.”

The minister also paid tribute to freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar on his 154th birth anniversary, highlighting that his Swadeshi spirit continues to inspire India’s self-reliance journey.

As part of the MoU with NTPC, the company’s green energy subsidiary will establish a green hydrogen fueling station and introduce hydrogen-based internal combustion engine trucks for VOC Port operations. This initiative is designed to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuel-based trucks, enhance energy security, and promote decarbonisation in port logistics.

NTPC has been spearheading India’s renewable energy transition. Its green energy arm is already developing a green hydrogen hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and has set an ambitious target of 60 GW renewable energy capacity by 2032.