Pioneering the Future: Renewable Energy Giants Expand Globally with Green Hydrogen Initiatives

As the world seeks sustainable energy solutions to combat climate change, the spotlight is increasingly turning towards green hydrogen. Renewable energy leaders like Hero Future Energies, Adani New Industries, Renew, and Avaada Group are not only championing this cause domestically but are also extending their ambitions to international markets. This strategic expansion underscores the potential of green hydrogen to play a pivotal role in achieving global energy transition goals.

Hero Future Energies: Strategic Moves in the Global Arena

Hero Future Energies (HFE), a prominent entity within the Hero Group, is making significant strides in the global green hydrogen landscape. According to Srivatsan Iyer, the global CEO of HFE, the company is rigorously evaluating the deployment of green hydrogen plants across the UK and Europe. These evaluations are conducted in collaboration with key partners, positioning HFE as a leader in international green hydrogen development.

HFE’s ambitious plans include a partnership with Tier 1 electrolyser Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Ohmium International. This collaboration aims to establish a robust network of green hydrogen production facilities with a capacity of 1,000 MW spread across India, the UK, and Europe. By leveraging these partnerships, HFE is not only focusing on immediate project commissioning but also on scalable opportunities that can significantly impact the green hydrogen market.

To operationalize these projects, HFE has forged strategic alliances with various stakeholders across the green hydrogen value chain. This comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of green hydrogen production, from generation to distribution, is optimized for efficiency and sustainability.

Adani New Industries: Global Market Penetration and Strategic Alliances

Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, is actively exploring international markets to secure offtake partners for green hydrogen and its derivatives. The company’s spokesperson revealed that ANIL is targeting key regions such as Europe, Japan, and South Korea, where the demand for sustainable energy solutions is on the rise.

In a significant move last year, Adani Global, a step-down subsidiary of Adani Enterprises based in Singapore, entered into a 50:50 joint venture with Kowa Holdings Asia. This joint venture is focused on the sales and marketing of green ammonia, green hydrogen, and their derivatives, specifically targeting markets in Japan, Taiwan, and Hawaii.

ANIL’s domestic efforts are equally impressive. The company is developing large-scale integrated green hydrogen and derivatives plants in Gujarat. These projects are supported by comprehensive feasibility and construction-readiness studies. ANIL’s strategic focus includes the development of downstream products such as green ammonia, green methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel, tailored to meet the needs of diverse sectors. The company aims to achieve a production capacity of 1 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of green hydrogen and 5.6 MMTPA of green ammonia by 2030, reflecting its long-term vision and commitment to green energy.

Renew: Expanding Horizons with Strategic International Projects

Renew Power, founded by Sumant Sinha, is another key player making significant inroads into the green hydrogen sector. The company has signed an exploratory framework agreement with Egypt to establish a green hydrogen plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. This strategic location offers tremendous potential for leveraging the plant’s output for both regional and global markets.

Domestically, Renew has been proactive in forming strategic partnerships with state governments. The company has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the governments of Odisha, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh to set up green hydrogen plants. One of the notable projects is a 0.5 million tonne green hydrogen plant in Odisha, where Renew has secured a 0.1 million tonne offtake agreement with Japanese power major JERA.

In addition to these initiatives, Renew has entered into a joint venture with Indian Oil Corporation and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to develop a comprehensive green hydrogen business. This collaboration aims to harness the strengths of each partner to create a robust and scalable green hydrogen infrastructure.

Avaada Group: Ambitious Plans for Diverse Green Fuel Production

Avaada Group is making significant strides in the green hydrogen and green fuel sectors. The company plans to develop a production capacity of approximately 4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of various green fuels, including green ammonia, green methanol, e-methanol, and sustainable aviation fuels. This ambitious plan positions Avaada as a major player in the global green fuel market.

One of Avaada’s flagship projects involves the development of an integrated renewable energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia plant with a capacity of 0.5 MTPA in Odisha. This facility will include storage and related port infrastructure, ensuring seamless integration of production and distribution processes. According to Vineet Mittal, chairman of Avaada Group, the company is in active discussions with various potential offtakers both in India and globally. These discussions highlight Avaada’s role as a producer rather than a consumer of green fuel, showcasing its strategic position in the green energy value chain.

Mittal also mentioned that Avaada is working on various tenders for the procurement of green fuels by different offtakers. These efforts are aimed at securing long-term contracts that will ensure the economic viability and sustainability of their green fuel projects.

The Broader Implications: Cost Competitiveness and Policy Support

Vikram V, vice president and co-group head-corporate ratings at ICRA, emphasized that the demand for green hydrogen is being driven by strong policy support from governments worldwide. This support is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. However, the current cost competitiveness of green hydrogen remains a significant challenge. The cost of green hydrogen is approximately $4–5 per kilogram, compared to about $2 per kilogram for grey hydrogen. Despite this, it is anticipated that costs will decrease as production scales up, technology improves, and operational efficiencies are realized.

Gradual Progress with Pilot Projects

While many companies have announced ambitious green hydrogen plans, the overall progress remains gradual. Most current initiatives are pilot projects aimed at testing and refining technologies and processes. This careful approach ensures that large-scale implementations will be more efficient and effective once they are rolled out.

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What Are Your Thoughts on the Future of Green Hydrogen?

As renewable energy companies continue to push boundaries and explore international markets for green hydrogen, how do you envision this impacting the global energy landscape? Will green hydrogen become the cornerstone of a sustainable energy future?

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

We invite you to join the conversation and share your insights on the future of green hydrogen. What challenges and opportunities do you foresee in the adoption of this promising energy source? How can stakeholders collaborate to accelerate its development and deployment? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and be part of the global dialogue on green hydrogen.