Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu virtually inaugurated a ₹1,000-crore green hydrogen plant by Hero Future Energies (HFE) at Rockman Industries in Tirupati on Monday. The plant integrates green hydrogen with Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) for industrial heating purposes.

"Today, I inaugurated a first-of-its-kind green hydrogen plant in Tirupati. Launched by HFE and Rockman Industries, this pioneering project blends Green Hydrogen with LPG/PNG for industrial applications, marking a significant breakthrough in industrial decarbonisation," wrote Naidu on his 'X' account.

The plant features a 300 kW PEM electrolyser powered by a 1.1 MWp rooftop solar system. It can mix green hydrogen up to 10% in LPG and 3% in PNG. With a workforce of 2,000 employees, the HFE plant currently produces 25 TPA of green hydrogen annually, with the potential to expand production to 54 TPA, according to an official statement.

Regarding environmental benefits, the plant is expected to cut 206 TPA of carbon dioxide emissions and release up to 195 TPA of oxygen into the atmosphere. Highlighting the significance of this project, the chief minister stated that it sets a new benchmark for India's clean energy transition and showcases the feasibility of scalable and sustainable solutions.

"The success of this project offers a blueprint for industries such as glass, steel, petrochemicals, and chemicals to adopt hydrogen-based solutions without the need for extensive infrastructure overhauls," he stated.

The Chief Minister described this development as a significant milestone, emphasising the state's dedication to ‘leading’ India's green energy revolution in line with the SwarnaAndhra@2047 vision. Naidu stated that the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy - 2024 is a prominent initiative toward this goal, aiming to expand renewable energy capacity by over 160 GW and attract investments of up to USD 119 billion over the next five years.

"With its strategic coastal advantages, deep-sea ports, robust logistics network and industry-friendly policies, Andhra Pradesh is poised to become a global hub for green hydrogen exports, catering to domestic and international markets," Naidu further said.