The Indian Army and NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NREL) have signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of green hydrogen projects at army establishments using the build, own, and operate (BOO) model. DG sets in off-grid locations power various locations of the Indian Army. According to the Indian Army, it intends to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and their logistics for power generation and heat in accordance with the Centre’s vision of “Panchamrit” and Carbon Neutral Ladakh. In phases, NTPC REL will design, develop, and install renewable energy projects and the Hydrogen Energy Storage System.
Under the terms of the MoU, a phased identification of potential sites for the establishment of green hydrogen projects for supplying electricity would be undertaken. “The MoU signals an advanced approach for modernization by Indian Army and NTPC’s commitment to serve the nation and assist its decarbonization goals. This agreement is the first of its kind, ushering in a new era of border security backed up by energy security for the country’s defence lines,” it said. NREL is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, and it currently has 3.6 GW of renewable energy capacity under construction. NTPC Group has ambitious plans to install 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032, with 3.2 GW currently installed.
NTPC has also taken several initiatives in hydrogen technologies, having already completed a hydrogen blending with piped natural gas project in Gujarat and is currently executing a hydrogen-based mobility project (in Ladakh and Delhi) as well as a green methanol project in Madhya Pradesh.