“Kerala’s Hydrogen Hub: Pioneering a Green Blueprint for India’s Future”
The Kerala Hydrogen Valley roadmap is designed to connect various stakeholders across the entire green hydrogen value chain.
The green hydrogen ecosystem being developed in Kerala is poised to serve as a model for other Indian states, according to Rolf Behrndt, principal advisor at the German Development Agency (GIZ). GIZ has awarded a tender to MEC Intelligence for creating a roadmap for the Kochi hydrogen hub.
Behrndt noted that this initiative represents a pilot project aimed at establishing effective public-private partnerships in hydrogen development. He expressed enthusiasm for the prospects of green hydrogen in India, highlighting the importance of “Hydrogen Valleys” as the next step following pilot projects.
The National Hydrogen Mission prioritizes the creation of hydrogen hubs, and several Indian states are currently assessing how to best foster hydrogen development at the state level. The Kerala Hydrogen Valley roadmap aims to connect various stakeholders across the entire green hydrogen value chain, from renewable energy production to potential applications in refineries, mobility, and the fertilizer and maritime sectors.
By integrating all stages of production and usage, the project aims to ensure reliable off-take, which is essential for securing private sector financing. The phased development approach will also help focus investment on shared infrastructure needs. The tender document outlines the importance of establishing hydrogen valleys or clusters, which will create an integrated ecosystem that utilizes significant amounts of hydrogen, thus enhancing project economics.
