Reliance, BPCL, Greenko, Welspun, ACME winners among others in green hydrogen auction of SECI

Reliance Green Hydrogen and Green Chemicals (Reliance), HHP Two (Hygenco), ACME Cleantech Solutions, Greenko ZeroC (Greenko) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) emerged victorious in the tender by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for the establishment of production facilities generating 450,000 metric tons (MT) of green hydrogen per annum.

SECI had floated the tender in July and sought proposals under two categories. One category was of Technology Agnostic Pathways (Bucket I) and other being the Biomass-based Pathways (Bucket II). The tender process for green hydrogen and electrolyzer manufacturing commenced in July of the current year, initiated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy through Tranche-I of the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program. These projects are required to be operational within 30 months from the issuance of the letter of award.

As per the notification of SECI, Bucket I comprises a total capacity of 410,000 MT/annum, while Bucket II accounts for 40,000 MT/annum.

In Bucket I, Reliance, Greenko, and ACME secured 90,000 MT of capacity with average incentives of Rs 18.9 /kg, Rs 30/kg, and Rs 30/kg respectively.

SECI awarded Hygenco with 75,000 MT capacity with an average incentive of Rs 25.04 for every kilogram.

Other awardees included Welspun New Energy with 20,000 MT capacity at an average incentive of Rs 20/kg, Torrent Power with 18,000 MT at Rs 28.89/kg, Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) Projects with 10,500 MT, and UPL (formerly United Phosphorus Limited) with 10,000 MT at a zero average incentive.

JSW Neo Energy secured 6,500 MT capacity out of the quoted 10,000 MT under Bucket I, with an average incentive of Rs 34.66/kg using the bucket filling method. All awarded capacities fall under Bucket I.

I Am Renew reported that SECI received an overwhelming response from companies – including the large conglomerates – vying for government incentives to establish an annual manufacturing capacity of 3.4 GW for electrolyzers—an essential component in green hydrogen production. The evaluation of electrolyzer bids is still in progress.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation secured a green hydrogen manufacturing capacity of 2,000 metric tons under Bucket II, obtaining an average incentive price of Rs 30/kg. BPCL is the sole recipient of awards in this category, as the remaining 38,000 metric tons of capacity went unallocated.