OMCs to prepare joint roadmap on green hydrogen

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has asked OMCs to submit a detailed plan to increasingly adopt green hydrogen and provide a leg-up to their energy transition plans.

Public-sector undertakings (PSUs) under the ministry target to produce more than 1 million tonnes (mt) of green hydrogen by 2030.

Refineries in the country already utilise hydrogen for internal consumption, which has the potential to be converted into green hydrogen. The ministry plans to ensure uptake through city gas distribution (CGD) where it will be blended green hydrogen (GH2) with natural gas.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is testing hydrogen-enriched natural gas, or HENG, to be carried in natural gas pipelines. In theory, the two can be mixed in any proportion, but typically, HENG in the range of 10 per cent to 20 per cent hydrogen by volume represents the most-promising near-term option.

In August, IOCL invited global tenders to establish its first green hydrogen generation plant at the Panipat refinery. At 10 KTA (thousands tonnes per annum) capacity, the project is envisaged to be created over the next 30 months.

Back in 2021 as well, IOCL had released bids to set up green hydrogen units at its refineries in Panipat and Mathura refineries. With planned installed capacities of 2,000 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) and 5,000 mtpa, respectively, the units were planned to be set up on a build-own-operate basis. The period of operation was up to 24 years and the new units had a target deadline of 28 months. However, the plans did not fructify, and the company has now decided to refocus its efforts on the Panipat refinery, its largest in India with 15 mtpa capacity.

IOCL plans to mix the green hydrogen produced with grey hydrogen that is produced during naptha or natural gas for captive purposes in secondary processing units.