India’s first green hydrogen-based microgrid project in Andhra Pradesh

NTPC green hydrogen: National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited, a state-run power giant, announced on February 15, 2021, that it has awarded a standalone fuel-cell based green hydrogen microgrid project at Simhadri in Andhra Pradesh. A statement by Power Ministry stated that a project of fuel-cell-based Micro-grid with hydrogen production using electrolyzer in NTPC guest house has been awarded at Simhadri (near Vishakhapatnam).

India’s first green hydrogen-based microgrid project is in line with PM Modi’s vision of the country becoming carbon neutral by 2070 and for making Ladakh a carbon-neutral territory.

India’s first and one of the world’s largest #GreenHydrogen Microgrid Projects to be set up at NTPC Simhadri, Visakhapatnam@OfficeOfRKSingh @mnreindia @MinOfPower @power_pib @RajKSinghIndia @CMDNTPC @PIB_India @PSUSCOPE pic.twitter.com/uHdPgSAnAH

— NTPC Limited (@ntpclimited) December 15, 2021

India’s first hydrogen-based microgrid project: Significance

The green hydrogen-based microgrid project will also be India’s first green hydrogen-based energy storage project and one of the largest in the world.

The green hydrogen project at Simhadri in Andhra Pradesh will be a precursor to large-scale hydrogen energy storage projects and will facilitate studying and deploying multiple microgrids in various off-grid and strategic locations in India.

First hydrogen-based microgrid project in Andhra Pradesh: Details

The hydrogen at India’s first hydrogen-based microgrid project will be produced using the advanced 240 kW Solid Oxide Electrolyser by taking the input power from the nearby floating solar project.

The hydrogen which will be produced during sunshine hours will be stored at high pressure and will be electrified using a 50 kW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. As per the official notification, the system will work in standalone mode from 5 PM in the evening to 7 AM in the morning.

How first hydrogen-based microgrid project in AP will affect far-off regions?

The configuration of the unique hydrogen-based microgrid project in Andhra Pradesh has been designed in-house by NTPC.

The hydrogen project in Andhra Pradesh is a unique project for the country and will open doors for decarbonizing the far-off regions of India such as Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, etc, hitherto dependent on diesel generators.

National Thermal Power Corporation

The present installed capacity of the state-run power giant is 67,907.5 MW comprising of 47 NTPC stations and 26 joint ventures stations.