Kerala is gearing up to embrace the fuel of the future — green hydrogen, with South India’s first green hydrogen plant and refuelling station nearing commissioning on the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) premises. The project marks a major milestone in India’s clean energy transition and could soon power the Kochi Water Metro and selected e-feeder services of the Kochi Metro.

The project is being implemented by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in collaboration with CIAL, featuring a 1,000-kilowatt facility at Nedumbassery. BPCL has also finalised plans for a second hydrogen refuelling station in Thiruvananthapuram in partnership with ANERT (Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology).

According to a senior BPCL official,“Green hydrogen holds the potential to revolutionise aviation and urban mobility. The refuelling station at Nedumbassery is ready for commissioning and will initially produce 80 kilograms of green hydrogen per day. The fuel will cater to hydrogen-powered vessels and e-feeder buses to be introduced by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL).”

The Kochi Water Metro, which currently operates electric-hybrid ferries built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, plans to transition to zero-emission hydrogen vessels. “The shift to hydrogen fuel is under active discussion with Cochin Shipyard. While we initially held back due to high costs and sourcing challenges, the situation has changed thanks to ANERT’s subsidy support,” a KMRL source said.

When the proposal was first made two years ago, the cost of green hydrogen was around Rs 960 per kilogram, but industry reports suggest this has now fallen by more than half, making the technology more commercially viable.

The Water Metro has also begun a pre-feasibility study to explore hydrogen-ferry services connecting Kochi airport from Aluva, via Periyar River and nearby canals such as Changal Thodu. The hydrogen-fuelled vessels for this route would be refuelled directly at the BPCL–CIAL station.

In addition, CIAL plans to deploy hydrogen-powered buses under a three-year Proof of Concept (PoC) project in partnership with EKA Mobility, KPIT Technologies, and BPCL. The 9-metre-long buses, designed by EKA Mobility, can carry over 30 passengers and will be used for airport operations and short-distance commutes. If successful, the fleet will be expanded.

BPCL is also working with BluJ Aerospace on developing a hydrogen-powered Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft ecosystem, aimed at promoting zero-emission urban and regional air mobility. The collaboration will include research into indigenous hydrogen fuel cells.

Both hydrogen refuelling stations in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram will play a key role in advancing Kerala’s Hydrogen Valley Programme, serving as research and pilot hubs for hydrogen-based mobility solutions.