India's state-run power company, NTPC announced awarding a standalone electrolyzer and fuel-cell-based green hydrogen microgrid project at Simhadri, in Andhra Pradesh. A power ministry statement announced the project as "Fuel-Cell based Micro-grid with hydrogen production using electrolyzer".

As per the statement, this will be India's first green hydrogen-based energy storage project and one of the largest in the world. The ministry said that it would be a precursor to large-scale hydrogen energy storage projects and would be useful for studying and deploying multiple microgrids in various off-grid, hard to electrify, and strategic locations across the country.

The hydrogen production is based on a solid oxide electrolyzer that will draw power from a nearby floating solar project. The hydrogen produced during sunshine hours will be stored at high pressure and converted as needed using the solid oxide fuel cells. The system is designed to function in standalone mode from 5 pm in the evening to 7 am in the morning.

The project is designed by NTPC and will open the door for decarbonizing remote high-altitude regions so far dependent on fossil fuel-based generators. 

The project is touted to be in line with the government's vision of carbon neutrality by 2070 and making the Ladakh region a carbon-neutral territory even before. 

The present installed capacity for NTPC is close to 67,907 MW.