Reliance Partners With Norway's Nel ASA For Electrolysers, Advancing Its '1-1-1' Green-Hydrogen Goal

Accelerating its green energy initiatives, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has entered into a technology licensing agreement with Norway's Nel ASA to make electrolysers for production of green hydrogen.

"The agreement with Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser AS, a fully owned subsidiary of Nel ASA, provides Reliance with an exclusive license for Nel's alkaline electrolysers in India and also allows it to manufacture Nel's alkaline electrolysers for captive purposes globally," the Norwegian firm said in a statement.

Green hydrogen is generated through the electrolysis of water using electricity derived from renewable sources. The carbon footprint of this process hinges on the carbon neutrality of the electricity source. In simpler terms, the more renewable energy in the electricity mix, the greener the produced hydrogen becomes.

Central to the green hydrogen production process is the electrolyser technology. Alkaline and polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysers are two commercially available technologies for green hydrogen production today. Advanced electrolyser technologies like solid oxide and anion exchange membrane are nearing commercial deployment as well.

RIL announced its foray into green hydrogen during Covid-19 pandemic. The Fortune 500 company is among the largest global producers of grey hydrogen.

The company has partnered with Denmark’s Stiesdal to reduce costs and commercialise their pressurised alkaline electrolyser technology. Additionally, Reliance is in advanced talks with other leading electrolyser technology players globally to establish a fully-integrated, automated, giga-scale electrolyser manufacturing facility at the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex in Jamnagar.

After proving cost and performance targets, the company aims to progressively commence transition from grey to green hydrogen by 2025. This will serve its own needs and that of other industries and companies.

In essence, all these deals will help RIL meet its ambitious goal of 1-1-1 for green-hydrogen production, shared by its chairman Mukesh Ambani, of making one kilo of green hydrogen available for $1 in a decade. The global goal is largely towards $2 per kg by 2030.