Kerala has been granted Rs 348.4 million for its pioneering green hydrogen pilot project in the transport sector. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is funding the initiative, with approval from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The total project cost is estimated at Rs 400 million, with nearly 90% of the funding coming through viability gap funding (VGF) under the Green Hydrogen Pilot Scheme.

The funding is divided into Rs 5.45 crore for vehicles and Rs 293.9 million for hydrogen refuelling stations. ANERT, the state’s nodal agency, will oversee the project and subsidize green hydrogen fuel costs for the first two years to ensure smooth operations.

Two major routes—Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi and Kochi to Edappaly—have been sanctioned for the project, with four trucks, including HICE and FCEV models, set to operate over a 24-month period. These trucks will be used by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for transporting spares.

The project also involves the establishment of two hydrogen refuelling stations in Muttathara (Trivandrum) and Udyogamandal (Kochi), each with a capacity of 260 kg per day. Key partners include Ashok Leyland (hydrogen trucks), BPCL and Greenstat India (refuelling infrastructure), and KSRTC (operation).

Issued on December 26, 2024, the Letter of Award sets a 24-month completion timeline for the pilot, aiming to showcase the scalability and feasibility of hydrogen technology in the transport sector.

This green hydrogen initiative is part of the larger National Green Hydrogen Mission, which focuses on developing infrastructure and technologies to support the widespread use of hydrogen in various sectors.