Government Plans Green Hydrogen Plant in West Bengal

According to Power Minister Aroop Biswas, West Bengal is preparing to build a green hydrogen plant in Durgapur as the federal government has identified the state as a potential location for its production.

As per the recent talk at INFOCOM 2022, a networking conference led by the research community, Biswas stated that the Center’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has lined up nearly Rs 11,900 crore in investment for the power sector.

He explained that the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) was preparing to build a green hydrogen plant at Durgapur as a pilot project after the Union government recently identified West Bengal as a potential state for a green hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing zone.

The state government, according to the minister, will “immediately” start upgrading the Kolaghat and Bandel thermal power plants.

The RDSS program, which will invest Rs 11,895 crore for loss reduction, the installation of smart meters, and system modernization to advance the industry on the path of a sustained improvement trajectory, has given the pursuit of energy transition a significant boost, according to Biswas.

In the Murshidabad district, at Sagardighi, he added, a 660 MW supercritical thermal power station is being built.

The state could potentially add one 660 MW and two 800 MW thermal power plants, respectively, at Bakreshwar (Birbhum district) and Santaldih (Purulia district).

In addition, a 500 MW floating solar project at Bakreshwar Dam has received approval from the West Bengal Cabinet, according to Biswas.

Recently, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) planned to develop Grid Connected Floating Solar PV Power Plant of 10 MW (AC) capacity at the Upper Dam of Purulia Pump Storage Project Site, Ajodhya Hills, Barria Mouza, Baghmundi in Purulia District of West Bengal.