Kerala Receives Rs 34.8 Crore Funding for Green Hydrogen Pilot Project

06 Jan 2025

Kerala has received a funding allocation of Rs 34.84 crore for its green hydrogen pilot project in the transport sector. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is providing the funding, while the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is approving the project on behalf of MNRE due to its focus on transport, told N. Veluri, CEO, ANERT.

The estimated total cost of the project is Rs 40 crores, with Rs 34.85 crores—approximately 90%—being funded through viability gap funding (VGF) under the Green Hydrogen Pilot Scheme. The total funding includes a VGF of Rs 5.45 crore allocated for vehicles and Rs 29.39 crore for the hydrogen refuelling station. ANERT will cover the green hydrogen fuel costs for the first two years to support the operational subsidy.

Under this, two routes have been approved: Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi to Edappally. The initiative is financed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and carried out by the Automotive Research Association of India. The Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), the state’s nodal agency, has been appointed as the implementing body. The funding has received approval from the Project Appraisal Committee.