INOX Air Products, the leading manufacturer of industrial, electronic, and medical gases in India, has successfully commissioned its first-ever Green Hydrogen manufacturing plant at Asahi India Glass Limited’s (AIS) new float glass facility in Soniyana, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. This groundbreaking initiative marks India’s first use of Green Hydrogen in the float glass manufacturing process, setting a new benchmark for sustainable production in the glass industry, according to the press release.
AIS, one of India’s top glass manufacturers, has entered into a 20-year offtake agreement with INOXAP for the supply of Green Hydrogen to its facility. The solar-powered plant will produce up to 190 tons of Green Hydrogen annually through the electrolysis process, with the first phase targeting the supply of 95 tons per annum (TPA). The Green Hydrogen will be used in AIS’s float glass production, significantly reducing the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.
The Green Hydrogen plant, which is fully powered by renewable solar energy, forms a crucial part of AIS’s sustainability strategy. As part of the agreement, AIS has also invested in the solar power infrastructure that generates the renewable energy required for Green Hydrogen production. This collaboration highlights the growing importance of renewable energy solutions in India’s industrial sector, particularly in reducing carbon emissions and promoting cleaner manufacturing processes.
INOX Air Products will oversee the design, engineering, installation, and ongoing operation of the Green Hydrogen plant at the AIS facility. The company will ensure a continuous supply of Green Hydrogen to the facility for the next two decades. The partnership aims to play a significant role in decarbonizing the glass manufacturing industry while supporting India’s broader energy transition efforts.
Siddharth Jain, Managing Director of INOX Air Products, shared, “We are thrilled to embark on our Green Hydrogen journey with AIS at their Soniyana facility. This plant is not only India’s first Green Hydrogen plant for the float glass sector, but it also represents a major step forward in India’s energy transition. Our Green Hydrogen supply will help AIS reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 1250 MTPA, contributing significantly to India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.”
Rupinder Shelly, COO of Architectural Glass at AIS, expressed pride in being the first glass manufacturer in India to implement Green Hydrogen in the float glass production process. “With the commissioning of INOXAP’s Green Hydrogen plant, we are further strengthening our commitment to sustainability. Our Soniyana facility aims to meet 94% of its power requirements from green and renewable sources, and this partnership is a key part of our strategy. We are also investing in projects like generating electricity from flue gases before they are released, which complements our circularity and decarbonization objectives,” he said.
AIS’s greenfield project in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, is dedicated to producing high-quality float glass for automotive and architectural applications. The technology for this project is being provided in collaboration with AGC Europe, a leading global glass manufacturer. The Green Hydrogen plant, provided by INOX Air Products, is a critical component of AIS’s broader sustainability efforts, which include reducing the carbon footprint of their glass production processes.
This partnership represents a significant step towards India’s vision of becoming a global leader in renewable energy adoption and industrial decarbonization. Through their commitment to using Green Hydrogen and solar energy, both INOX Air Products and AIS are pioneering a greener future for India’s industrial sector.
