Greenko-Cockerill JV to build 2 GW green H2 electrolyser plant in India

Greenko ZeroC (GZC), a subsidiary of Greenko Group, an Indian clean-tech company, and John Cockerill, a Belgium-based designer and manufacturer of high-capacity alkaline electrolyzers, have agreed to together manufacture green hydrogen electrolyzers in the Indian sub-continent.

The two companies will build a hydrogen electrolyser Gigafactory targeting capacity of two gigawatts which is aimed at substituting 8% of India LNG imports.

Pressurized alkaline technology provided by John Cockerill is well adapted to “large scale” hydrogen applications and, combined with Greenko’s low cost RE-RTC (round the clock) solutions, will enable the lowest Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) necessary for the implementation of a large H2 ecosystem on the Indian subcontinent, said an official statement.

The Gigafactory will comprise the full manufacturing electrolyser value chain, including state of the art nickel coating and will produce electrolysers delivering H2 at 30 bars at the outlet at the highest purity level, it added.

Greenko aims to deliver internationally cost-competitive green hydrogen and associated green molecules. John Cockerill is, among other technologies, striving to develop the world’s highest capacity electrolysers (6.5 MW commercial with envisioned engineering to go upto 20 GW) and manufacturing facilities across the globe. These developments in the H2 industry are expected to help large local industries (such as refineries, fertilizer plants, steel), the implementation of a large-scale energy ecosystem focused on renewable energies (PV, wind, hydro) and the development of H2 mobility in India.

Anil Chalamalasetty, Greenko’s CEO & MD said, “This partnership will not only help curtail India’s energy imports; it will also facilitate a turnaround to enable energy exports.”

Raphael Tilot, John Cockerill Renewables’ CEO, said:  India and neighbouring countries have abundant natural resources, a large domestic market and the potential to cater to the growth of this market regionally and globally. On the human side, collaboration between Indian and Belgian team have made good progress and we are very confident on the future developments.”