Page 144 - CW E-Magazine (19-11-2024)

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CLEAN ENERGY

Govt. seeks proposals for green hydrogen research centres

The Government of India has asked sharing, fostering collaboration among
for proposals to establish Centres of government, academia, and industry.
Excellence (CoE) focused on Green The centres will play a crucial role in
Hydrogen research and development. improving effi ciency in Green Hydro-
This move is part of the National Green gen processes and creating new pro-
Hydrogen Mission, aiming to position ducts, pooling resources and expertise
India as a leader in sustainable energy. to support India’s transition to a low-
In a press release issued on November carbon economy.
6, the Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy (MNRE) invited institutions hancing energy independence and ad- To support the initiative, the govern-
and industry partners to submit propo- vancing low-carbon technologies, the ment has allocated Rs. 100-crore for
sals under the R&D Scheme of the centres are expected to drive innova- the establishment of these centres. The
mission. tion in Green Hydrogen, contributing National Green Hydrogen Mission,
signifi cantly to the country’s long-term launched on January 4, 2023, is part of
These CoEs are envisioned as hubs sustainability efforts. a larger investment of Rs. 19,744-crore
for integrated research across various through FY30, aimed at helping India
segments of the Green Hydrogen value According to MNRE, the CoEs will reduce carbon emissions, decrease
chain, including production, storage, serve as platforms for high-level re- reliance on fossil fuels, and build a self-
and application. With a goal of en- search, skill-building, and knowledge reliant clean energy framework.
DIVERSIFICATION PLANS

Archean investing into silicon carbide and zinc-bromide

battery businesses

Archean Chemical Industries Ltd. enter the energy storage sector, lever- ductor space, targeting high-growth
(ACI) is investing £15-mn for a 21.33% aging synergies with its bromine busi- sectors such as EVs, renewable energy,
stake in Clas-SiC Wafer Fab Ltd., a ness to support Offgrid’s production industrial power electronics, and data
UK-based silicon carbide (SiC) wafer scale-up and meet growing demand in centres. Additionally, the investment
foundry specialising in SiC MOSFETs renewable energy and industrial storage in Offgrid Energy Labs enables ACI to
and diodes. This investment secures applications. actively participate in the rapidly expand-
technology exclusivity in India, en- ing energy storage sector by leveraging its
abling Archean to integrate its specia- These initiatives also align with speciality chemical capabilities to meet
lity chemicals expertise into SiC semi- ACI’s focus on entering the semicon- battery storage requirements.
conductor business, achieving cost
effi ciencies and a streamlined supply IOC Vadodara refi nery fi re claims two
chain to meet growing demand in high-
growth markets like EVs and renew- lives
able energy. A fi re at Indian Oil Corporation’s was brought under control after several
(IOC’s) refi nery located in Koyali area hours. The cause of the fi re was being
ACI has also signed a binding term on the outskirts of Vadodara, Gujarat, investigated.
sheet for strategic investment of $12-mn has claimed two lives.
for a 21% stake in Offgrid Energy Following the fi re, fl uid circulation in
Labs, a company specialising in zinc- The fi re that began on November the IOC complex was stopped as per the
bromide battery technology under its 11 afternoon with a blast in a benzene standard operating procedure. Other stor-
patented ZincGel brand. This invest- storage tank of the refi nery later spread age tanks were being cooled to ensure the
ment aligns with Archean’s strategy to to two other adjoining tanks. The blaze blaze didn’t spread, the police informed.

144 Chemical Weekly November 19, 2024

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