The Leh station serves as a model for future large-scale green hydrogen projects across India. Amara Raja Infra completed India's first green hydrogen fuelling station in Leh, Ladakh for NTPC Ltd. Union Power Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the facility on Saturday. This station produces 80kg of green hydrogen per day and supports emission-free transportation.
The project, located 3,400 meters above sea level, endured extreme temperature fluctuations during its two-year construction period. Temperatures ranged from -25°Celsius to 30°Celsius. NTPC will operate five hydrogen fuel cell buses in the region, furthering India's green mobility initiatives.
A shift towards alternative green fuel
Amara Raja Infra highlighted the significance of the project for advancing green transport in Leh. The company also emphasised India's leading role in the global green mobility sector. This project aligns with the National Hydrogen Energy Mission.
"The completion of this challenging project has reaffirmed our EPC expertise, and we are very excited that we were the first player to enter the green hydrogen infrastructure space," stated Dwarakanadha Reddy, Business Head (Power EPC) at Amara Raja Infra Pvt Ltd.
The Leh station serves as a model for future large-scale green hydrogen projects across India. The company believes the project's success provides valuable data for deploying more hydrogen fuelling stations nationwide. It will also support further research and development in the field. The project faced unique challenges due to its high-altitude location and extreme temperatures, stated Reddy.
Green hydrogen adoption
This achievement signifies a major step towards broader adoption of green hydrogen technology within India's energy landscape. The station's 80kg per day production capacity is sufficient to fuel the five hydrogen buses designated for the Leh area. Amara Raja Infra's successful completion of this project underscores their expertise in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) in challenging environments.
The inauguration by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal emphasises the government's commitment to green energy initiatives. The successful operation of this station will be a crucial case study for similar projects planned under the National Hydrogen Energy Mission. This project marks India's entry into a select group of countries actively pioneering green hydrogen technology for transportation.
