Greener Horizons: How ANIL’s Off-Grid Hydrogen Plant in Gujarat Signals a New Era for Clean Energy

by | Jun 27, 2025

In the arid, sun-drenched expanse of Kutch, Gujarat, a quiet revolution is underway. On 23rd June 2025, Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL) unveiled India’s first fully off-grid 5 MW green hydrogen plant, a facility powered exclusively by solar and wind energy.

This milestone, set against the backdrop of India’s fast-evolving clean energy landscape, marks far more than a technical first. It is a compelling demonstration of what a decentralised, fossil-free energy future could look like.

 

Unlike conventional hydrogen plants reliant on grid-supplied power or fossil fuels, ANIL’s Kutch facility operates independently, drawing on a hybrid renewable system to produce green hydrogen through electrolysis. This means the entire energy cycle – from source to output, is clean, decentralised, and self-sustaining. In a world grappling with carbon lock-in and unreliable centralised infrastructure, the implications are transformative.

A Holistic Vision of Clean Energy

The Kutch pilot isn’t an isolated effort. It sits within a much broader vision that ANIL and its sister company, Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), have been cultivating – a vertically integrated clean energy ecosystem stretching from manufacturing to deployment.

 

At the heart of this vision is ANIL’s manufacturing hub in Mundra, Gujarat, which houses production for high-efficiency solar modules and wind turbines. These components feed directly into mega-scale projects like the Khavda Renewable Park, a hybrid solar-wind site targeting 30 GW of capacity, one of the largest in the world. Two gigawatts are already operational.

 

This seamless supply chain, comprising renewable generation, electrolyser manufacturing, and downstream chemical fuel production, is part of ANIL’s aim to produce 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. It also enables the company to control costs, reduce project timelines, and maintain technological coherence throughout its operations.

Why Off-Grid Makes Sense – Especially for the Global South

The most innovative aspect of the Kutch project is its independence from the national grid. Off-grid, distributed energy solutions like this aren’t just engineering feats; they’re strategic tools that could reshape energy access and climate resilience across the Global South.

Here’s why off-grid matters:

  • Energy Sovereignty:

    Communities and industries can generate and use their own energy without relying on unstable or fossil-heavy grids.

  • Scalability:

    Modular, off-grid systems can be deployed in stages, matching demand growth without the need for costly grid extensions.

  • Cost Efficiency:

    With the dramatic fall in solar, wind, and electrolyser costs, decentralised renewables are now competitive with – if not cheaper than – grid-connected fossil generation.

  • Resilience:

    Distributed systems can weather local outages better and support energy security in disaster-prone or remote regions.

This approach is particularly well-suited to developing nations, many of which still face patchy grid access, high diesel dependency, and rising energy costs. Off-grid green hydrogen infrastructure offers not just clean power, but a foundation for energy independence and industrial growth.

From Desert to Demand: The Road Ahead

ANIL’s pilot in Kutch is a proof of concept, but also a stepping stone. The potential applications of green hydrogen are vast, ranging from fertilisers and shipping fuels to steel and long-duration energy storage. ANIL is already planning facilities for green ammonia, methanol, and synthetic aviation fuels, positioning Gujarat as a clean fuels hub with export potential.
Of course, challenges remain. Hydrogen costs are still higher than grey hydrogen made from fossil fuels. Infrastructure – such as hydrogen pipelines, storage systems, and bunkering facilities – must be developed alongside robust regulation and policy support. But the early signs are promising, and the momentum is building.

A Template for Tomorrow

The symbolism of India’s first off-grid green hydrogen plant goes well beyond Kutch or even India. It offers a scalable, cost-effective, and resilient model for clean energy that could be replicated in deserts, islands, and industrial zones around the world.

 

For countries wrestling with the dual challenges of climate change and energy access, ANIL’s project suggests that the future doesn’t need to be centralised, fossil-fuelled, or prohibitively expensive. It can be clean, local, and adaptable – powered not by pipelines, but by possibility.

 

At Haush, we see this as a pivotal moment. One where decentralised renewables, once seen as marginal, now sit at the very heart of energy strategy. One where hydrogen is no longer a future fuel, but a present solution. And one where the Global South might lead, not follow, in designing the energy systems of tomorrow.

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