India's first port-based green hydrogen pilot project

• On September 5, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India's first port-based green hydrogen pilot project at V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Tamil Nadu.

• The facility has been set up at a cost of Rs 3.87 crore, has a capacity of 10 nm³ per hour and will generate green hydrogen to power street lights and an electric vehicle charging station in the port colony.

• With the commissioning of this plant, VOC Port became the first green hydrogen producing port in the country.

• The foundation stone of a 750 cubic metre capacity green methanol bunkering and refuelling facility to be constructed at a cost of Rs 35.34 crore was laid.

• This methanol project is in line with the proposed coastal green shipping corridor between Kandla and Tuticorin and is expected to establish VOC Port as a major green bunkering hub in South India.

• Other projects launched include a 400 kW rooftop solar power plant, taking the port's total rooftop solar capacity to 1.04 MW, the highest among Indian ports.

• A ₹24.5 crore link conveyor connecting Coal Jetty-I to the port stack yard was inaugurated, which will increase operational efficiency by 0.72 MMTPA.

• Foundation stones were also laid for a 6 MW wind farm, multi-cargo berth costing ₹90 crore, a 3.37 km long four-lane road and the Tamil Nadu Maritime Heritage Museum.