India’s industrial decarbonization efforts received a major boost as INOX Air Products (INOXAP), the country’s leading manufacturer of industrial, medical, and electronic gases, commissioned its first green hydrogen production facility in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. Located at Asahi India Glass Ltd’s (AIS) newly launched float glass plant, this milestone project represents a significant shift in the application of clean energy within traditional manufacturing sectors. The plant, powered entirely by solar energy, will generate up to 190 tons of green hydrogen per year, making it the first such initiative in India to integrate green hydrogen in the glass-making process.
India's First Green Hydrogen Plant for Glass Production
INOX Air Products has officially begun operations at its first green hydrogen manufacturing unit, strategically located within Asahi India Glass Ltd's greenfield float glass facility in Soniyana, Chittorgarh. This venture introduces green hydrogen into an industrial application that has historically relied on fossil fuels, marking a transformational move toward energy transition and emissions reduction in India's manufacturing sector.
With a 20-year off-take agreement in place, INOXAP will exclusively supply green hydrogen to AIS, establishing a long-term model for renewable energy integration in the industrial ecosystem.
Electrolysis-Powered Hydrogen Production: The Solar Link
The plant utilizes solar-powered electrolysis to produce up to 190 tons of green hydrogen annually, a sustainable method that eliminates the carbon emissions associated with traditional hydrogen production. In its initial phase, INOX will supply 95 tons per annum of green hydrogen to AIS.
As part of this collaboration, AIS has made strategic investments in an on-site solar power facility that provides renewable electricity for hydrogen generation. This vertically integrated setup ensures that every step of the process—from energy sourcing to hydrogen output—adheres to strict sustainability standards.
A Groundbreaking Application in the Glass Industry
This facility represents the first-ever use of green hydrogen in India’s float glass manufacturing sector. The use of green hydrogen will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of glass production, a process traditionally considered carbon-intensive due to high thermal energy requirements.
According to INOXAP Managing Director Siddharth Jain, this deployment will lead to a reduction of 1,250 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually at the AIS site. Jain underscored green hydrogen’s role as “a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of a low-carbon economy.”
Strategic Collaboration and a 20-Year Vision
Under the agreement, INOX Air Products is fully responsible for the design, engineering, installation, and operational management of the green hydrogen facility. This ensures uninterrupted, consistent delivery of hydrogen over the 20-year contract period with AIS.
This model is not merely transactional; it is strategic—offering AIS a long-term, reliable source of clean energy while enabling INOXAP to scale its hydrogen technology footprint across multiple industries.
AIS Reaffirms Sustainability Goals Through Innovation
Asahi India Glass Ltd., one of India’s premier float glass manufacturers, views the partnership with INOXAP as a core component of its decarbonization and circularity roadmap. According to Rupinder Shelly, COO of Architectural Glass at AIS, the company aims to meet 94% of its power needs from sustainable sources at its Soniyana facility.
Shelly emphasized that this hydrogen integration will reinforce AIS’s longstanding commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and energy independence, all while delivering cutting-edge glass solutions for automotive and architectural markets.
Chittorgarh Facility: A Modern Industrial Benchmark
AIS's new Chittorgarh plant—developed in collaboration with AGC Europe, a leading glass technology innovator—is designed to produce high-quality float glass for both automotive and architectural purposes. This facility combines precision manufacturing with sustainable practices, setting a precedent for how industrial expansion can align with clean energy principles.
The addition of green hydrogen further elevates the site’s status as a next-generation industrial operation, showcasing how heavy industry can embrace environmental stewardship without compromising on efficiency or quality.
India's Green Move in Industrial Energy Transition
The collaboration between INOX Air Products and Asahi India Glass Ltd. sets a new benchmark in India’s industrial energy transition. By deploying green hydrogen in glass manufacturing—a traditionally high-emission process—this partnership not only lowers carbon intensity but also validates the commercial viability of clean hydrogen in core sectors.
This initiative could serve as a blueprint for other energy-intensive industries looking to reduce emissions while maintaining production scalability. As India eyes its 2070 net-zero goal, such public-private innovations will be instrumental in moving the country toward a low-carbon, energy-secure future.
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