Himachal Pradesh Leads the Way in Green Hydrogen Production with New 1 MW Plant.
Chief Minister Lays Foundation for North India’s First Green Hydrogen Project in Solan District.
Solan:
Himachal Pradesh has taken a significant step towards a sustainable future by laying the foundation for North India’s first-ever 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant in Dabhota, located in the Nalagarh Tehsil of Solan district. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, laid the foundation stone for this pioneering project on Wednesday, which is set to revolutionize the state’s renewable energy landscape. The project is a joint venture between Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and Oil India Limited, with an investment of Rs. 9.04 crore.
The plant, which is expected to be completed within a year, is a major leap forward in Himachal Pradesh’s ambitious goal of becoming India’s first Green Energy State by March 2026. During the inauguration, Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized the importance of the project, describing it as a crucial milestone in the state’s journey towards sustainability and renewable energy leadership.
“This initiative is not just about generating clean energy, but about setting a model for the entire country on how green hydrogen can become a cornerstone of our future energy needs,” said Sukhu, underscoring the state’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
In line with this vision, the state government had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oil India Limited on April 26, 2023, to collaborate on the development of solar energy, green hydrogen, geothermal energy, and compressed biogas projects. This MoU forms the foundation of Himachal’s multi-faceted renewable energy strategy.
The Dabhota Green Hydrogen Plant will produce hydrogen through electrolysis, powered by renewable energy sources, and will use an alkaline potassium hydroxide solution as an electrolyte. This method of production significantly reduces carbon emissions, helping create a cleaner and greener energy ecosystem.
The plant will have a production capacity of 423 kilograms of green hydrogen per day, utilizing 13 liters of water per kilogram of hydrogen sourced from underground reserves. The production process will consume about 52.01 units of electricity per kilogram of hydrogen. Annually, the plant is expected to generate a total of 1,54,395 kilograms of green hydrogen.
Highlighting the state’s overall focus on green energy, Sukhu noted that this project is part of a broader effort to meet the state’s renewable energy targets, including its ambitious goal to achieve 500 MW of solar energy generation in the coming years.
A host of dignitaries attended the groundbreaking ceremony, including MLAs Hardeep Singh Bawa, Ram Kumar Choudhary, Vinod Sultanpuri, and Sanjay Awasthi, Vice Chairman of HPSIDC Vishal Chambyal, Managing Director of HPPCL Harikesh Meena, and officials from Indian Oil Ltd., among others.
As Himachal Pradesh positions itself as a leader in green energy, this Green Hydrogen Plant is poised to become a vital component of the state’s sustainable energy infrastructure, driving the future of renewable energy in India.
