India selects winners for second electrolyser tender
India has selected the winners of its second round of subsidy tenders to support 1.5 GW/yr of electrolyser manufacturing capacity, according to government sources.
Out of the 23 companies that bid, India selected 13 to receive support (see table). But these results are still tentative and may change, a government source told Argus. The final list is likely to be published on the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) website by next week.
This round follows a similar structure to the first, with incentives starting at 4,440 rupees/kW ($53/kW) in the first year and decreasing annually. But India introduced a new category for smaller indigenously developed units. All categories in this round were oversubscribed, with the category for smaller indigenously developed units attracting the most interest. Some 13 companies bid for a combined capacity of 295 MW/yr but Indian only offered support for 100 MW/yr. Four companies won bids in this category. Conglomerate Adani, Eastern Electrolysers, and start-up Newtrace will each get subsidies for 30 MW/yr, the maximum capacity available for an individual firm.
In the "any stack technologies" category, seven companies will share subsidies for 1.1 GW/yr of production. This category was also oversubscribed, with bids totalling over 2 GW/yr. Mumbai-based Waaree Energies and a consortium of engineering firms Gensol and Matrix Gas Renewables will receive the largest support in terms of production capacity. Waaree will receive subsidies for 300 MW/yr, the maximum support available for an individual company in this category. The Gensol and Matrix Gas consortium will receive subsidies for 237 MW/yr, followed by Advait Infratech, which secured support for 200 MW/yr.
In the large "indigenously developed units" category, India only selected two firms. Newage Green Electro will receive support for 228.5 MW/yr, while Adani will receive support for 71.5 MW/yr.
Several firms that won subsidies in the first round also participated in the second round. Adani Enterprises submitted bids across all three categories, totalling 233 MW/yr. In the previous round, its subsidiary, Adani New Industries, received subsidies for 198 MW/yr in the indigenously developed stack technology category. But the tender stipulates that the maximum capacity allocated to a bidder, including parent or affiliate companies, is limited to 300 MW/yr across all tranches and categories of India's production-linked incentive scheme, meaning Adani could not have won its full bid amount. US-based Ohmium and Gujarat-based Advait Infratech also submitted bids for extra subsidies in this round after winning in the first round. Renewable energy firm Avaada succeeded this time, securing support for 49.5 MW/yr after an unsuccessful bid in the last tender.
Mixed results for India's other tenders
India is expected to delay the deadline for its second round 450,000t/yr hydrogen production plant tender for 10-15 days, the official said.
The government had previously asked for bids by 23 August, but this looks likely to push into September.
Separately, SECI received around 500 queries from companies about for India's first renewable ammonia supply tender after the government last month set out details for its proposals for 10-year subsidy contracts, the official added. This tender has already faced delays and it could potentially need more time and work to resolve doubts and questions from the private sector.
| Winners of electrolyser manufacturing tender | |
| Manufacturing capacity in MW/yr | |
| Bucket 1: all stack technologies | |
| Avaada Electrolyser | 50 |
| Newage Green Electro | 72 |
| Waaree Energies | 300 |
| Gensol, Matrix Gas and Renewables | 237 |
| Advait Infratech | 200 |
| Ohmium Operations | 137 |
| GH2 Solar | 105 |
| Total bids | 1100 |
| Bucket 2A : indigenously developed stack technology | |
| Newage Green Electro | 228 |
| Adani Enterprises | 71.5 |
| Total bids | 300 |
| Bucket 2B : indigenously developed stack technology - smaller units | |
| Adani Enterprises | 30 |
| Eastern Electrolyser | 30 |
| Newtrace | 30 |
| Suryaashish KA1 Solar Park | 10 |
| Total bids | 100 |
| government sources | |
Related news posts
H2 project on Australia’s busiest road hits rough patch
H2 project on Australia’s busiest road hits rough patch
London, 9 August (Argus) — The government-backed project to develop hydrogen refuelling along Australia's busiest road freight route appears to have run into some difficulty as it has still not announced an "industry partner" and the two most likely companies to take on the role — BP and Ampol — appear to no longer be participating in the selection process. The governments of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have offered a combined A$20mn ($13.2mn) to entice a private sector developer to take on the Hume Hydrogen Highway project and planned to announce their chosen partner by mid-2024, but have made no announcement to date. BP and Australian refiner and retailer Ampol, who have existing road fuel outlets along the route, were participating in the selection process but are no longer in the running, a source with knowledge of the process has said. Government planners appeared to have cooled their interest in the project and had discouraged companies from advancing with it, they added. A spokesperson for the project from the NSW government declined to comment on the status of the project or the exit of the companies from the process. "There are no updates we are able to provide on this project at this time," they said. BP and Ampol have not responded to request for comment. The Hume Hydrogen Highway initiative aims to build a network of at least four hydrogen refuelling stations on "Australia's busiest freight corridor" between the east coast cities of Sydney and Melbourne, the state governments announced in 2022 . It is intended to support a fleet of at least 25 hydrogen-powered freight trucks starting from June 2025, and must dispense renewable hydrogen, they had said. The states had also outlined the possibility to expand to Queensland for a future east coast network. The NSW government is considering changes to its renewable fuels policy, which could involve promoting other renewable fuels aside from hydrogen for short and medium-term CO2 abatement, while maintaining support for hydrogen as a longer-term option, it said last week. By Aidan Lea Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Jogmec makes first e-methanol investment: Correction
Jogmec makes first e-methanol investment: Correction
Corrects Jogmec's acquisition of a stake in HIF Global.in paragraph 2 Tokyo, 9 August (Argus) — Japan's state-owned energy agency Jogmec is investing for the first time in the e-methanol sector since the launch of a financing scheme in 2022 to aid domestic supplies of low-carbon fuels. Jogmec announced on 8 August that it has accepted Japanese refiner Idemitsu's application to Jogmec's overseas financing scheme for hydrogen and low-carbon fuels-related projects. Jogmec will provide $36mn to the US' HIF Global through Idemitsu's US subsidiary Idemitsu Efuels America (IEAC) and obtain an undisclosed stake in the IEAC. Idemitsu, through IEAC, will also invest $114mn to secure an undisclosed stake in US' HIF Global. The deal follows Idemitsu's initial agreement with HIF in March 2023 to work on production and promotion of e-fuels, along with a decision to buy e-methanol from HIF and jointly study the possible development of the fuel. Idemitsu and Jogmec plan to import e-methanol and other synthetic fuels from HIF's projects and use them as shipping fuels, as well as feedstocks to generate synthetic fuels and petrochemical products. HIF is targeting to produce around 4mn t/yr of e-methanol equivalent by 2030 at its production sites in Tasmania in Australia, Matagorda in the US, Magallanes in Chile and Paysandu in Uruguay. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Canada in focus for natural hydrogen exploration
Canada in focus for natural hydrogen exploration
London, 8 August (Argus) — Several company announcements in recent days have put Canada into the spotlight for naturally-occurring subsurface hydrogen prospects. Vancouver-based natural resources company Max Power said on 1 August it had "uncovered Canada's largest natural hydrogen target area" in the province of Saskatchewan and that it had assembled a "1,244km² land package through a series of permit applications". On 6 August, the same firm said it had "staked" an additional 2,112km² for exploration, thereby nearly tripling the target area of what it has named the Rider Natural Hydrogen Project. Max Power has made "permit applications" for 3,356 km², planning natural hydrogen exploration "and drilling in due course," it told Argus . The project's target area, in southeast Saskatchewan, has dozens of historical hydrogen showings including with grades up to 96.4pc, the company said. The province "is exceptionally positioned to become the first jurisdiction in North America to produce natural hydrogen," it said. But as for most natural hydrogen ventures globally, these plans are at an early stage and the focus for now is on assessing the precise potential. Compatriot Quebec Innovative Materials (QIMC) is also pursuing natural hydrogen exploration — albeit at a smaller scale. The company said on 6 August it discovered "significant natural hydrogen anomalies" in additional areas of its 250 km² Ville Marie natural hydrogen exploration, which it is pursuing together with research institute INRS in Quebec province. "The extension of this discovery aligns with Quebec's clean energy objectives by identifying a promising source of natural hydrogen," QIMC said. Other Canadian firms have ventured abroad in pursuit of natural hydrogen. Montreal-based Hydroma, a pioneer in this sector, has been looking into opportunities in Mali , west Africa. The company plans to source natural hydrogen for local power generation and aims to develop large projects in the future after it proves its business case, Hydroma's strategy and development director Asma Diallo said previously. Canada joins countries such as the US , France , Colombia and the Philippines where companies have outlined ambitious plans for natural hydrogen exploration and production. By Pamela Machado Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia’s NSW may revise renewable fuels strategy
Australia’s NSW may revise renewable fuels strategy
Sydney, 2 August (Argus) — Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state could revise its renewable fuels strategy, in a move to help the state achieve its emission reduction goals and reach net zero by 2050. The Labor party-led state government has released a discussion paper, seeking input on whether it should set or redesign existing mandates for using fuels like renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and green hydrogen and its derivatives. Currently, the ethanol and biodiesel mandates state that volume fuel retailers must ensure that 6pc and 2pc of the total volume of petrol and diesel sold is ethanol and biodiesel, respectively. Renewable fuels will be used in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, manufacturing and heavy road transport as a replacement for fossil fuels. The government has opened the consultation with industry participants until 30 August, it said in a press release. Renewable fuel producers have long argued that the poor enforcement of the mandates, coupled with poor loopholes, has hindered the sector's growth in both NSW and Queensland states. The renewable fuels strategy will build on the existing NSW hydrogen strategy, the government said, to maintain support for hydrogen as a long-term abatement option while "expanding consideration to other renewable fuels for short and medium-term abatement." Expanding the renewable fuel scheme (RFS)beyond green hydrogen may further boost the sector, by creating a market-based certificate scheme for other fuels that require liable parties to purchase certificates representing each gigajoule of fuel produced. At present, the RFS legislates annual targets beginning at 7,417 t/yr in 2026, rising to 66,667 t/yr of green hydrogen by 2030. Gas retailers and large gas users that buy directly from producers must procure and surrender certificates to meet their share of the RFS's target or pay a penalty for a certificate shortfall, according to government policy. Mandates for green ammonia use in mining operations and biodiesel blending for the transport sector may also form part of the renewable fuels strategy, the paper said, while the government could set requirements for renewable fuel purchases by its own departments. NSW has ambitious plans for its green hydrogen industry, aiming for 2GW of electrolyser capacity by 2030 , backed by electricity network charge concessions to decarbonise its ammonia, heavy transport and the agricultural sectors initially. The government accepted planning applications for Australian utility Origin Energy's planned a 55MW Hunter Valley hydrogen hub near the city of Newcastle , which would sell 80pc of its output to Australian chemical and explosives firm Orica's nearby ammonium nitrate plant. Origin plans to make a final investment decision on the project by late 2024. The federal government is also funding studies into assisting the low-carbon liquid fuel industry , including options for production incentives and other measures to help its growth. The NSW government plans to reduce emissions by 50pc of 2005 levels by 2030, 70pc by 2035 and net zero by 2050. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more