India has set an ambitious target of producing 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of green hydrogen by 2030 with an aim to mitigate 50 million tonnes of CO2 and reduce energy imports by Rs 1 trillion. Electrolysers play a critical role in the green hydrogen production process and constitute 30–50 per cent of the total cost of green hydrogen. The electrolyser market in India is expected to grow to 20 GW by 2030, 112 GW by 2040, and 226 GW by 2050.
This research “How can Hydrogen Electrolysers be Made in India?” by CEEW indicates that about 72 per cent of the PEM electrolyser manufacturing cost can be readily indigenised. All BoP components, such as power converters and heat exchangers, are already manufactured in India for various other applications and can be readily adapted to electrolyser manufacturing. However, components such as the Nafion membrane have not yet been developed in India. Hence, these components will need to be imported in the initial years.
Further, key minerals such as platinum and iridium are not available in India. Thus, indigenous manufacturers will remain dependent on mineral imports unless alternatives are developed. Nonetheless, the study finds that these components contribute to only 18 per cent of the total manufacturing cost. The report found that the indigenisation of a few components can be increased if the raw material is imported, and its processing takes place in India.
Access the report here
