SJVN Limited achieved a significant milestone with the inauguration of India’s first Multi-purpose Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at SJVN’s 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh. The inauguration took place on April 24, 2024, and marked a significant step forward in the country’s pursuit of clean energy solutions.
The Green Hydrogen Pilot Project, inaugurated by Chairperson and Managing Director Geeta Kapur, is aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission of the Government of India. Kapur expressed her enthusiasm about the project, stating, “Aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission of Government of India, SJVN’s Green Hydrogen Pilot Project is poised to accelerate the development of green hydrogen production infrastructure in the power sector, thus establishing green hydrogen as a clean energy source.”
The state-of-the-art project is designed to produce 14 kilograms of Green Hydrogen daily during 8 hours of operation. The hydrogen produced will be stored at a pressure of 30 bars, in six storage tanks, with a total storage capacity of 12 m3. The project utilises an alkaline electrolyser of 20 Nm3/hour capacity, powered by renewable energy supplied from a 1.31 MW Solar Power Plant of SJVN in Wadhal, Shimla.
One of the primary purposes of the green hydrogen produced will be to meet the combustion fuel requirements of the High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) Coating Facility at NJHPS. Additionally, the project will generate electricity through its fuel cell of 25 kW capacity. The green hydrogen will also be used for the High Velocity Oxygen Fuel Coating of turbine underwater parts.
During the inauguration, SJVN Chairperson Geeta Kapur also inaugurated the Centralised Operation of the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) and 412 MW Rampur Hydro Power Station (Rampur HPS). Unit-2 of Rampur HPS was remotely operated from the NJHPS Control Room at Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh, marking a significant advancement in operational efficiency. Rampur HPS is now successfully operated on a Tandem Operating System with NJHPS.
Kapur commended the dedicated efforts of the teams at NJHPS, Rampur HPS, and the Electrical Design Team at SJVN Corporate Headquarters for this achievement. She urged the employees to continue working diligently to realise the aim of operating the entire Rampur HPS from NJHPS at the earliest.
