Indian Oil Corporation has announced the budget for its upcoming green hydrogen production facility at the Panipat Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in northwestern India. Scheduled for completion by December 2027, the project represents a major step in the company’s shift towards clean energy and reduced carbon emissions.
Once operational, the plant will produce 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, making it one of the largest such facilities in India. The clean hydrogen will replace fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen currently used in refinery operations, helping to significantly cut carbon emissions.
Hydrogen is a critical component in refining processes such as hydrocracking and desulphurisation. Traditionally, this hydrogen is generated from natural gas through steam methane reforming—a method known for its high carbon footprint. Switching to green hydrogen could cut emissions by up to 80,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, according to estimates from BP, referencing similar efforts in Germany.
Supporting India’s 2023 Green Hydrogen Mission—which targets a national production capacity of at least five million tonnes per year—Indian Oil is ramping up its renewable energy investments. The company has approved an additional $127 million equity injection into its Terra Clean subsidiary to develop 4.3GW of new renewable energy projects.
Currently, Indian Oil operates 238.7MW of renewable power from wind and solar sources. It aims to scale this to 31GW by 2030, aligning with its broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2046.