by Aashutosh Aggarwal, CEO, Simon India
India is standing at the crossroads of an energy renaissance. Green hydrogen is no longer just a concept – it’s fast becoming the backbone of our decarbonized future.
The Logic: Why Green Hydrogen, Why Now?
The nation’s industrial sector, from fertilizers to steel to refineries, accounts for a substantial share of carbon emissions. Traditional approaches, incremental efficiency gains, fuel-switching, have reached their practical limits. Enter green hydrogen: produced by splitting water using renewable energy, it’s truly carbon-neutral and shatters the boundaries holding back a clean, resilient industrial sector.
The Momentum: Recent Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia Bids
India’s momentum is reflected in the latest rounds of competitive bidding:
- SECI’s (Solar Energy Corporation of India) Green Ammonia Auctions: The 6th auction in August 2025 shattered records with a winning bid of ₹50.75/kg for an 85,000 TPA green ammonia supply to Coromandel International Limited at Kakinada. This is a dramatic improvement over just last year, where benchmark prices crossed ₹100/kg.
- Game-changing Cost Discovery: Earlier auctions under the SIGHT Scheme (Mode-2A) set prices at ₹53.05/kg and ₹55.75/kg for large-scale green ammonia supply to fertilizer plants in Maharashtra and Odisha respectively. The convergence of competitive pricing, robust offtake assurance, and deepening investor confidence is now irrefutable. Each auction witnesses new winners and fresh innovation, proving the market is maturing rapidly.
These are not isolated events. They are signals: India’s green hydrogen and green ammonia sectors are commercially viable, globally competitive, and foundational to our energy transition.
Strengths That Set India Apart
- Decades of Industrial Expertise: The country has vast experience in executing large-scale, technically challenging process plants across sectors including chemicals, fertilizers, petrochemicals, oil & gas, and power.
- Integrated Capabilities: From concept and feasibility to commissioning, capabilities span site assessment, technology selection, detailed engineering, procurement optimization, project management, plant automation, and digital transformation.
- Skilled Workforce: Engineering leadership and technical experts bring decades of cumulative experience across multiple disciplines, enabling rapid, reliable delivery both within India and internationally.
- Digital-Driven Engineering: Advanced digital tools and AI-driven platforms are increasingly being leveraged to enhance project efficiency, scheduling, design, and execution.
- Focus on Safety and Sustainability: Strong compliance with HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) standards is central to industrial operations, reinforced by a culture of transparency, risk management, and accountability.
Proven Project Delivery in Relevant Sectors
- Fertilizer & Chemical Expertise: India has successfully delivered large-scale facilities in sulfuric/phosphoric acid, methanol, ammonia abatement systems, and pipelines, projects that mirror the requirements of scaling up green hydrogen and ammonia.
- Power & Renewables: Captive and cogeneration power plants, retrofits, and process automation projects highlight readiness to integrate renewable energy and green technologies into industrial applications.
- Global Benchmarking: Indian firms have successfully delivered projects in international markets like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the USA, showcasing compliance with global standards and adaptability in emerging green sectors.
Ready for the Green Hydrogen Era
India is not just following the green energy revolution, it is helping build its foundation. With a robust project pipeline, growing international partnerships, and a mindset of relentless innovation, the country is ready, scalable, and reliable for large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia ventures.
The Strategy: Building India’s Green Hydrogen Ecosystem
- End-to-end Project Execution: Efforts are underway to move beyond pilot projects toward industrial-scale deployment.
- Digital Transformation: AI and advanced tools are being used to optimize the design, construction, and operations of hydrogen and ammonia plants.
- Value Chain Focus: True success lies in integrating renewables, water management, hydrogen storage, and supporting infrastructure to ensure seamless supply to end-users in hard-to-abate sectors.
The Vision: From Bids to Breakthroughs
With every successful auction, India is not just driving down prices—it is building confidence for investors, offtakers, and policymakers that the nation can and will lead the global green molecule market. The energy story is no longer “wait and watch”—it is “compete and lead.”
The Call to Action
For industrialists, the message is crystal clear: the era of green hydrogen is here. Every plant built, every auction won, pulls the future closer. India is poised to engineer solutions, deliver world-class projects, and decarbonize its way to energy sovereignty.
Let’s fuel this revolution together—one molecule, one megawatt, one milestone at a time.
