The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) announced the commissioning of the first green hydrogen production facility under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). SECI is serving as the implementing agency for green hydrogen production under Mode-1, Tranche-I of the mission. The project marks a key milestone in India’s efforts to scale up green hydrogen production and accelerate the country’s clean energy transition.
JSW New Energy Develops Facility at Vijayanagar
JSW New Energy (Vijayanagar) has developed the facility, which is located at the JSW Vijayanagar Steel complex in Ballari, Karnataka. The plant has a production capacity of 3,600 tonnes per annum (TPA) of green hydrogen, making it one of the early industrial-scale deployments under the national program. By commissioning the project, SECI and JSW are taking a significant step toward integrating green hydrogen into industrial operations, particularly in energy-intensive sectors.
Renewable Energy Powers Green Hydrogen Production
The facility runs on 25–27 MW of round-the-clock renewable energy, sourced through a combination of captive solar and wind power assets. The project uses pressurized alkaline-based electrolyzers to produce hydrogen by splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. The technology enables large-scale, low-carbon hydrogen production, supporting India’s ambition to become a global hub for green hydrogen.
Green Hydrogen to Decarbonize Steel Manufacturing
The hydrogen produced at the plant will be used in the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) process at JSW Steel, helping reduce carbon emissions associated with traditional steel manufacturing methods. In addition to hydrogen, the electrolysis process generates oxygen as a by-product. The plant will utilize this oxygen in its blast furnace operations, thereby improving process efficiency and enabling better resource utilization across the facility.
Government Focus on Building a Hydrogen Workforce
To further strengthen the green hydrogen ecosystem, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently invited proposals from States and Union Territories to implement programs focused on skilling, upskilling, and reskilling workers for the hydrogen value chain. The initiative aims to develop a trained workforce capable of supporting the rapid growth of India’s hydrogen economy.
New Guidelines Promote Decentralized Green Hydrogen Applications
In August 2025, MNRE issued revised program guidelines for pilot projects involving green hydrogen and its derivatives in the residential, commercial, and decentralized sectors. Unlike earlier initiatives, the revised guidelines emphasize localized and off-grid applications, promoting decentralized production models powered by renewable energy sources.
Plans for Developing Green Hydrogen Hubs
In another initiative to expand the ecosystem, SECI invited proposals in September 2025 to select an executing agency for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for green hydrogen hubs under Component B1 of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These hubs are expected to play a crucial role in scaling up hydrogen production, building infrastructure, and attracting investments across the hydrogen value chain.
Advancing India’s Green Hydrogen Economy
With the commissioning of the first facility under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India has taken an important step toward establishing a robust green hydrogen ecosystem. As more projects come online, the initiative is expected to support industrial decarbonization, strengthen renewable energy integration, and position India as a global leader in green hydrogen production.
