Indian engineering firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) commissioned a 45 kg/d green hydrogen plant on 20 August at its AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat state.
A 380kW alkaline electrolyser and a 420kW polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) can be housed in the plant, bringing its total capacity to 800kW. They will be powered by a 990kW rooftop solar plant and a 500kWh battery energy storage system.
While the alkaline electrolyser has been installed, the PEM electrolyser and an increase in solar plant capacity to 1.6MW will be part of future expansions. The hydrogen produced will then be blended at a 15pc rate with natural gas for use as fuel for the firm's manufacturing activities at the complex as part of the project's first phase.
The plant will reduce greenhouse gases by some 300 t/yr, said L&T's whole-time director and senior executive vice- president for energy Subramanian Sarma.
L&T in April this year agreed to form a joint venture with state-controlled refiner IOC to produce renewable hydrogen, in line with India's target to be a green hydrogen hub by 2030.

