‘JSL’s H2 project gels with green vision’
Jindal Stainless Steel’s green hydrogen (H2) project aligns with the government’s vision for a cleaner and more sustainable future, and will be an inspiration for other industry players to embrace clean technologies, said Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union minister for aviation and steel, on Monday.
He was speaking at the inauguration of India’s first green hydrogen plant in the stainless-steel sector by Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL).
The green hydrogen plant in Hisar, which will pave the way for sustainable steel production, was commissioned by JSL in a 25-year contract with Hygenco Green Energies Private Ltd.
The project creates valuable employment opportunities, and showcases the potential of responsible industrial practices, he added. The government is encouraging companies, citizens, and state governments to focus on “green growth” and “green jobs” to achieve the target of net zero carbon emission by 2070, he said.
This project will be the world’s first green hydrogen plant with rooftop and floating solar equipment which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 54,000 tonnes over the next two decades. The alkaline bipolar electrolyzer, which has a capacity of 350 nm3/hr (normal cubic metres per hour), guarantees an average 90 nm3/hr round-the-clock supply of green hydrogen using dedicated solar energy and storage, the company added.
The facility is controlled by an advanced energy management and control system and Hygenco is operating the plant under the build-own-operate (BOO) model.
The decision of a long-term commitment to green hydrogen technology by Jindal Stainless reflects a forwardthinking approach mindful of its environmental responsibility, said Nagendra Nath Sinha, secretary in the steel ministry. “By harnessing renewable energy sources to produce hydrogen, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also diversifying our energy mix and enhancing energy security.”
In August 2022, JSL announced a strategic partnership with Hygenco to build the green hydrogen plant in Hisar, Haryana. JSL has another plant in Jajpur, Odisha, where the company is initiating a 200 MW (megawatt) round-the-clock renewable power plant.
The green hydrogen plant is a crucial step toward achieving net-zero emissions and promoting sustainable practices in the manufacturing sector, said Abhyuday Jindal, MD of Jindal Stainless Steel Ltd. “This is just the beginning; we will scale this up depending on successful application in other processes of stainless-steel manufacturing,” he said.
Scindia also highlighted India’s progress in the steel sector, evolving from a net importer to a net exporter, while aiming to become the world’s largest producer of crude steel.