ACME Group and IHI Corporation have strengthened their green hydrogen plans with their green ammonia joint venture in Gopalpur, Odisha, securing support under Japan’s clean hydrogen framework ahead of its planned commissioning in 2030.
The project, designed to produce 405,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of green ammonia using renewable energy, has received certification under Japan’s price support programme administered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism under the Hydrogen Society Promotion Act, Manufacturing Today reported.
The project has also been selected under Japan’s clean hydrogen Contract for Difference (CfD) subsidy programme, which will provide price support for 228,000 TPA of clean ammonia from September 2030. The mechanism is intended to reduce the cost gap between clean and conventional ammonia for Japanese buyers over a 25-year period.
In addition, 177,000 TPA of output from the facility has been allocated under Japan’s Long-Term Decarbonised Power Source Auction (LTDA), strengthening long-term supply arrangements for decarbonised fuel in Japan’s power sector.
The ACME-IHI Green Ammonia joint venture is being developed as an export-focused hub powered entirely by renewable energy at the Tata Steel SEZ Industrial Park in Gopalpur, with commercial operations expected to begin by July 2030.
Anil Taparia, Chief Executive Officer of ACME Green Molecules Business, said the inclusion of the Gopalpur project under Japan’s clean hydrogen CfD programme, along with LTDA support for capacities at Gopalpur and Paradip, marks a significant milestone for the company.
He said the approvals improve long-term revenue visibility across ACME’s green ammonia portfolio, strengthen project financing prospects and support the goals of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission as well as Japan’s decarbonisation plans.
Alongside Gopalpur, ACME is also developing a green ammonia project in Paradip, Odisha, with an annual production capacity of 800,000 TPA and a planned start date in 2029.
The company has secured a Green Ammonia Purchase Agreement (GAPA) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for 370,000 TPA, creating a domestic demand base. It has also received an allocation for 83,000 TPA under Japan’s LTDA programme for exports.
These developments strengthen India–Japan cooperation in clean energy transition and reinforce ACME’s position in Japan’s emerging green hydrogen and green ammonia import ecosystem.
