Maruti Suzuki India commissioned a 300 kW green hydrogen electrolyser plant at its Manesar manufacturing facility in Haryana. The project marks the automaker’s first green hydrogen plant and forms part of its efforts to reduce fossil-fuel consumption and lower the carbon footprint of manufacturing operations.
Green Hydrogen from Surplus Solar Power
The pilot plant will use surplus solar power generated at the Manesar facility during holidays to produce green hydrogen. Maruti Suzuki will store the hydrogen and subsequently blend it with natural gas for use as process fuel in manufacturing operations. This approach will also improve the utilisation of renewable electricity that might otherwise remain unused, while supporting the company’s transition towards cleaner industrial energy sources.
Plans to Expand Green Hydrogen Use
Based on the results and operational learnings from the pilot project, Maruti Suzuki plans to expand green hydrogen adoption across its manufacturing facilities in Haryana and Gujarat. The green hydrogen initiative forms part of a broader strategy to diversify the company’s renewable energy mix.
Expanding Biogas and Energy Storage
Maruti Suzuki is also in the advanced stages of establishing a 10-tonne-per-day biogas plant at its Kharkhoda facility. In addition, the company has commissioned a 1 MWh battery energy storage system at the site. The company’s board has also approved four compressed biogas projects with an investment of ₹561 crore. Together, these initiatives are designed to increase the use of renewable and lower-carbon energy sources across its manufacturing network.
Targeting Lower Manufacturing Emissions
Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said the competitiveness of manufacturing operations will increasingly depend not only on cost and quality but also on the carbon intensity of production. The company aims to reduce its manufacturing carbon footprint from approximately 6,15,000 tons to 2,66,000 tons by FY2030-31. The new green hydrogen plant, along with investments in solar power, biogas and battery storage, is expected to contribute to this emissions-reduction target.
