India’s first green hydrogen microgrid project (and one of the world’s largest)

India’s largest integrated energy company NTPC has awarded the ‘standalone fuel cell-based microgrid with hydrogen production using electrolyser’ project at NTPC Simhadri (Andhra Pradesh). This will be India’s first green hydrogen-based energy storage project and one of the world’s largest. A precursor to large-scale hydrogen energy storage projects, it will be useful to study and deploy multiple microgrids in various off-grid and strategic locations of the country.

The hydrogen would be produced using the advanced 240 kW solid oxide electrolyser by taking input power from the nearby floating solar project. The hydrogen produced during sunshine hours would be stored at high pressure and electrified using a 50 kW solid oxide fuel cell. The system would work in a standalone mode from 5 pm to 7 am.

This unique project configuration is designed inhouse by NTPC. This project would open doors for India to decarbonise remote regions of the country like Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, hitherto dependent on diesel generators. The project is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of becoming carbon neutral by 2070 and making Ladakh a carbon-neutral territory.