Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sonowal Virtually Flags Off Electrolysers for DPA Kandla

Ahmedabad, In a significant step towards energy transition and achieving the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, today virtually flagged-off the Electrolysers manufactured by L&T under “Make-in-India” for a 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant being set-up at Deendayal Port Authority,

Kandla. Flag-off ceremony was attended by Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairman DPA, and Shri Derek M. Shah, Senior Vice President & Head, L&T Green Energy. The electrolysers were flagged off from L&T’s Hazira manufacturing facility, with DPA officials and employees witnessing the momentous occasion virtually from Gandhidham.

DPA’s Vision for Green Hydrogen
In line with the Ministry’s decision to develop Kandla Port as Green Hydrogen Hub, DPA Kandla initiated action in December 2024 for setting up a Port operated 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant (to be subsequently scaled up to 10 MW capacity), marking a pioneering effort towards sustainable energy adoption in India’s maritime sector.

The primary objective of this plant is to provide engineers and technicians with crucial exposure to the production, storage and handling ecosystem of Green Hydrogen, thereby fostering innovation and technical excellence within the port’s operational framework.

L&T’s Role in the Project
Recognizing L&T as a proven leader in the Green Hydrogen space, having already established a 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant at Hazira (inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister over a year ago, DPA entrusted the manufacturing of these electrolysers to L&T. Demonstrating remarkable efficiency and commitment to the Make-in-India initiative, L&T successfully manufactured these 1 MW electrolysers in a record time of just three months. Electrolysers are the most crucial component of any Green Hydrogen plant, playing a pivotal role in hydrogen generation.

Project Readiness and Future Roadmap
With the site work already completed at Kandla, these electrolysers will soon be assembled on-site to kickstart operations. The Green Hydrogen Plant is targeted to be fully operational by July 2025, with an estimated production capacity of 18 kg of Green Hydrogen per hour, translating to approximately 80-90 tonnes per year. This will make DPA Kandla the first port in the country to have set up an operational Green Hydrogen plant, using indigenous Electrolysers, within the Port limits.

The Green Hydrogen produced by the facility will be utilized to generate clean energy through Fuel Cells, paving the way for self-sustaining and eco-friendly power solutions at the port.

Additionally, DPA has ambitious plans to integrate Green Ammonia production by incorporating the necessary modules into the plant. This will further strengthen India’s position in the global green energy sector and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality goals. This milestone brings India closer to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a sustainable and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, while also aligning with the nation’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.

A Step Towards a Sustainable Future
The flagging-off ceremony marks a crucial milestone in DPA Kandla’s journey towards becoming India’s leading Green Hydrogen hub. With the cutting-edge green energy initiatives, DPA Kandla reaffirms its commitment to decarbonizing the maritime sector and setting a benchmark for other ports across the nation.