Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BluJ Aerospace, the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), Government of Kerala, and Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) to develop the world’s first hydrogen-fueled vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft ecosystem. “The project aims to transform urban and regional air mobility through the integration of green hydrogen-powered VTOL aircraft, enhancing speed, reducing noise, and improving efficiency while substantially cutting down carbon emissions,” stated BPCL.
BPCL will establish hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for the VTOL aircraft developed by BluJ Aerospace, including its forthcoming hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) in Kochi and Trivandrum. Furthermore, it will design and develop an indigenous proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell with high power density to facilitate vertical lift-off.
BPCL’s upcoming hydrogen refuelling stations in Kochi and Trivandrum will be strategically positioned to facilitate research and pilot projects within Kerala’s Hydrogen Valley Program. These stations will be essential in promoting commercial hydrogen applications and encouraging the wider uptake of hydrogen-powered transportation solutions, stated BPCL.
BPCL had recently partnered with KPIT Technologies to promote hydrogen-based mobility initiatives in Kerala. This initiative involves the establishment of hydrogen refuelling stations in Kochi and Trivandrum to support pilot hydrogen-powered public transport projects between the two cities. BPCL plans to deploy a locally developed alkaline electrolyser for hydrogen production, and KPIT Technologies will contribute an indigenously designed fuel cell-powered bus.
The project seeks to gather data on the performance of fuel cell buses in Kerala’s varying climatic conditions, which include high humidity, temperature fluctuations, and heavy rainfall. This information will help enhance the reliability of fuel cell technology and support future extensive deployment of hydrogen-powered transportation.
BPCL’s hydrogen refuelling stations will create high-purity (>99.99%) green hydrogen for the buses.
Solar Energy Corp of India (SECI) has issued Letters of Award for 450,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) green hydrogen capacity under Tranche II of the incentives scheme. The cumulative capacity has been awarded under two categories: green hydrogen production with technology agnostic pathways and green hydrogen production with biomass based pathways.
For green hydrogen production with technology agnostic pathways, L&T Green Energy, Green Infra Renewable Energy Farms, Waaree Clean Energy Solutions, and AM Green Ammonia have secured incentives for 90,000 tpa capacity each. Other winners in this category include Reliance Green Hydrogen and Green Chemicals (49,000 tpa), Suryadeep KA1 Project (19,000 tpa), GH2 Solar (10,500 tpa), and Oriana Power (10,000 tpa).
Matrix Gas and Renewables has secured incentives for 1,500 tpa biomass-based capacity.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) had dispatched an indigenously manufactured high-pressure alkaline electrolyser for the 1 MW green hydrogen plant being set up at Deendayal Port, Kandla. The electrolyzer is manufactured at Larsen & Toubro’s Hazira facility in Gujarat. The green hydrogen plant at Kandla port is expected to become operational by July 2025, producing 18 kg of hydrogen per hour. Deendayal Port Authority plans to expand green hydrogen plant capacity to 10 MW in the future.
BASF has commissioned a 54 MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer at its Ludwigshafen site after two years of construction. The electrolyzer, which includes 72 installed stacks, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions at BASF’s main plant by up to 72,000 metric tons per year. The German company said it invested €25 million ($27.3 million) in the project, with the European Union contributing €124.3 million. Hydrogen from the system will be used in the production of ammonia, methanol, and vitamins.
Sungrow Hydrogen has secured the largest share of alkaline hydrogen production equipment orders from China Coal Ordos Energy Chemical for its 100,000-ton “Liquid Sunshine” demonstration project. Sungrow said it will supply 16 sets of 1,200 Nm³/h alkaline electrolyzers with gas-liquid separation and purification systems. The green hydrogen will combine with refined carbon dioxide from chemical installations to produce methanol. The CNY 4.9 billion ($690 million) project in Inner Mongolia will feature 625,000 kW of new energy capacity and a hydrogen production capacity of 21,000 metric tons per year.
The European Commission has selected a project by Vale and Green Energy Park (GEP) as a flagship initiative of the EU’s Global Gateway Program in the Climate and Energy category. Vale said the project will produce green HBI (hot briquetted iron) in Brazil to supply European markets for green steel, delivered via decarbonized shipping corridors. The initiative will help decarbonize steel production in Europe, with Green Energy Park, an integrated hydrogen company, partnering with Vale on the project since October 2024.
Australia has committed AUD 750 million ($479 million) in public funding to accelerate the development of new technologies in the metals manufacturing sector. As part of the AUD 1.7 billion Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund announced in the 2024-25 budget, the funding aims to support cutting-edge innovation, particularly in low-emission technologies, with four of the 10 priorities focused on hydrogen.
The Venice Port Authority has authorized the construction of a new green hydrogen plant at Sapio’s facility in Marghera. The electrolyzer plant will operate autonomously from Sapio’s production cycles and be powered by renewable energy. The authority said the plant, built on a brownfield site using existing infrastructure, will establish Porto Marghera as Italy’s first Hydrogen Valley, with a total investment of €2.5 billion, of which €30 million is provided by the Veneto region.
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