Indian Oil to build first green hydrogen plant at Mathura refinery, India.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country’s largest fuel retailer, announced it will build the nation’s first Green Hydrogen plant at its Mathura refinery. The firm has been working on multiple Hydrogen production pathways and this project will introduce Green Hydrogen in the Indian Oil & Gas sector.
S M Vaidya, Chairman, IOC, said.
IndianOil has a wind power project in Rajasthan.
“We intend to wheel that power to our Mathura refinery to produce absolutely green hydrogen through electrolysis,”
He added that the company selected Mathura because of its proximity to Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). The idea is that the green hydrogen will replace carbon-emitting fuels used in the refinery to process crude oil into value-added products such as petrol and diesel.
IOC also has several approved expansion plans where rather than setting up a captive power plant it will utilise power from the grid, preferably green power, in a bid to help decarbonise part of the manufacturing.
Vaidya said the company has drawn a strategic growth path to focus on its core refining and fuel marketing businesses while making bigger inroads into petrochemicals, hydrogen, and electric mobility over the next ten years.
Commenting upon IndianOil’s plans to consolidate the core businesses, he said: “Petroleum refining and marketing with much higher petrochemicals integration will continue to be IndianOil’s key focus area. We are going to add 25 million tonnes of refining capacity by the year 2023-24.”
He also said that Indian fuel demand is expected to climb to 400-450 million tonnes by 2040 as against 250 million tonnes currently. This demand surge offers enough legroom for all forms of energy to co-exist.
“And, while exploring the multiple energy avenues, environmental conscience will be a critical priority for IndianOil. We are pushing ahead with research on carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies,” the IOC Chairman said.
Hydrogen being the cleanest form of energy is the latest focus area across the globe to satiate the rising energy needs. Green hydrogen is derived from water electrolysis using renewable energy like solar or wind. Biomass-based hydrogen production technologies also qualify under the green category.
Brown and grey hydrogen are produced through coal gasification and natural gas reforming, respectively. These production pathways generate a significant amount of carbon dioxide. Integration with appropriate carbon capture and utilisation technologies results in Blue hydrogen.
Highlight:
- IndianOil has been working on multiple hydrogen production pathways and this project will introduce green hydrogen in the Indian Oil & Gas sector.
Indian Oil to build India’s first green hydrogen plant at Mathura refinery, New Delhi, July 23, 2021