Indian Army Takes Lead In Promoting India's Green Hydrogen Mission

The Indian Army has initiated the installation of a Green Hydrogen-based Micro Grid Power Plant project in forward regions along the Northern borders that are not connected to the National or State Grid.

A memorandum of understanding MoU was therefore signed between Indian Army and National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) on Tuesday.

Indian Army is providing needed land on lease for 25 years with a promise to purchase produced power under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

NTPC will install the planned projects on Build, Own, and Operate (BOO) models at a jointly determined area in Eastern Ladakh. The project comprises constructing a Solar Power Plant for water hydrolysis to create hydrogen, which will be used to power fuel cells during non-solar hours.

This will pave the way for similar initiatives in the future, decreasing reliance on fossil-fuel-based generator sets while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The Indian Army has become the first government organization to sign an agreement with National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Limited, with clear intentions to carry out similar initiatives in the future, due to this MoU.

India's green hydrogen project has the potential to lessen the country's dependency on imported fossil fuels, improve India's export prospects for green hydrogen and steadily decarbonize diverse industries and replace fossil fuel dependence.

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. (NTPCREL), founded on October 7, 2020, is a completely owned subsidiary of NTPC Ltd (India's largest power utility). NTPCREL was founded with the goal of accelerating the company's renewable energy growth and increasing its green impact across the country, offshores, and internationally.

NTPCREL is undertaking huge Solar, Wind, and Hybrid Projects around the country, as well as establishing Gigawatt scale Renewable Energy Parks and Projects in several states under the Government of India's UMREPP (Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park) scheme. Green Hydrogen Mobility and ESG initiatives are also being undertaken in addition to this.