Turmeric Man of Himachal Pradesh

India has taken a giant leap in the renewable energy sector with the launch of its inaugural multi-purpose green hydrogen pilot project at Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh. Spearheaded by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited, the project aims to produce green hydrogen through renewable energy sources and signifies a significant milestone in the country's efforts to establish green hydrogen as a clean energy source. The project is being launched at the company's 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station, making it the nation’s first multi-purpose green hydrogen generation plant.

Project Overview

The project features a 20Nm3/hr alkaline electrolyzer and 25kW fuel cell capacity-based green hydrogen pilot system. It is the nation’s first multi-purpose green hydrogen generation plant, serving both electricity generation and the high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) coating facility of NJHPS.

Production Capacity

This state-of-the-art technology project is capable of producing 14 kg of green hydrogen in eight hours of daily operation. The produced hydrogen will be stored under a pressure of 30 bar in six storage tanks with a total storage capacity of 12 m3. 

Renewable Energy Integration

The project employs an alkaline electrolyzer to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Utilizing renewable energy from SJVN’s 1.31 MW solar power plant located in Wadhal, Himachal Pradesh, this integration allows for sustainable hydrogen production.

Inauguration Ceremony

Geeta Kapur, Chairperson and Managing Director of SJVN, inaugurated the country's first multipurpose green hydrogen production plant.

Kapur also inaugurated the centralized operation of NJHPS and Rampur Hydro Power Station (RHPS), demonstrating innovative remote control capabilities by operating Unit-2 of RHPS from the NJHPS control room at Jhakri. This showcases advancements in efficient hydroelectric power management.

National Impact

SJVN is playing an instrumental role in advancing India's National Green Hydrogen Mission by undertaking initiatives to accelerate the development of green hydrogen production infrastructure within the power sector. The company's efforts are aimed at promoting the production of green hydrogen, which is widely regarded as a clean and sustainable energy source. Geeta Kapur, who serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN, has highlighted the pivotal role of the project in establishing green hydrogen as a reliable and eco-friendly energy source.

The project is aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission of the Government of India and is expected to accelerate the development of green hydrogen production infrastructure in the power sector. The inauguration of the project by Geeta Kapur, Chairperson and Managing Director of SJVN, demonstrates the country's commitment to sustainable energy sources and showcases advancements in efficient hydroelectric power management.