India’s green hydrogen journey is gathering momentum, with engineering and project execution playing a defining role in its success. In this conversation, Srinivas Suthram, Head – Business Development at Kshema Power, discusses with Kaushal Dighavkar how EPC players are shaping large-scale hydrogen infrastructure, integrating renewables, and leveraging global experience to drive clean energy deployment.
Q. How do you see EPC players contributing to the large-scale infrastructure required for India’s green hydrogen transition?
As a leader in the industry, I strongly believe that EPC players are fundamental to India’s green hydrogen transition. It’s not just about building infrastructure – it’s about enabling a whole new energy ecosystem that will power India’s sustainable future. Leveraging engineering expertise, advanced project management capabilities, and an integrated approach is critical to delivering large-scale green hydrogen projects. By focusing on efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, key challenges around cost, scale, and timeline are addressed effectively. The role goes beyond construction – driving collaboration across stakeholders to ensure technology and execution come together seamlessly, building a clean energy infrastructure that supports India’s climate goals and energy security.
Q. In what ways can renewable energy sources like wind and solar be effectively integrated to power hydrogen systems?
Effectively integrating renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to power hydrogen systems requires a well-designed, technology-driven approach. The biggest challenge lies in the intermittent nature of renewables, making advanced energy management systems and efficient power-to-hydrogen solutions essential. Smart inverters, real-time monitoring, and predictive analytics help balance energy supply and demand, ensuring electrolysis units operate optimally even during fluctuations in solar or wind generation.
Hybrid system designs, where renewable energy is supplemented with energy storage solutions like battery banks or grid backup, provide a stable power supply for electrolysis. Strategically locating electrolysers close to renewable generation sites further reduces transmission losses and enhances overall system efficiency. In addition, modular electrolyser technology allows capacity to be scaled based on resource availability, offering greater flexibility in operation.
This technical integration is critical not only for maintaining high utilisation rates of electrolysers but also for lowering the levelized cost of green hydrogen. Ultimately, such solutions ensure economic viability while aligning with India’s ambitious carbon neutrality goals.
Q. With 5 GW+ executed projects, how is Kshema Power applying its expertise to accelerate clean energy deployment?
With over 5 GW of executed projects, Kshema Power is leveraging engineering expertise, strong project management, and an integrated approach to accelerate clean energy deployment. We focus on end-to-end solutions – from renewable power generation and transmission to system integration and efficient execution – ensuring projects are delivered on time and at optimized costs. Our experience enables us to tackle complex challenges like grid stability, resource variability, and large-scale infrastructure integration. By combining advanced technologies with local insights, we are helping India rapidly transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
Q. How can initiatives like the ₹17,490cr SIGHT scheme strengthen reliability and innovation in India’s green hydrogen ecosystem?
The ₹17,490 crore SIGHT scheme is a game-changer for India’s green hydrogen ecosystem. By providing focused financial support for large-scale hydrogen projects, it not only drives faster deployment but also encourages innovation across the entire value chain – from renewable energy generation (solar, wind), electrolysis technologies, and advanced storage solutions, including both hydrogen and ammonia storage, to compression, transportation, and distribution networks, as well as end-use applications in industries, mobility, and power generation.
Ammonia storage plays a critical role in enabling long-term, large-volume energy storage and easier transportation over long distances, while hydrogen storage ensures a reliable buffer to manage the intermittency of renewables and maintain stable production. The scheme supports innovation in key areas such as high-efficiency electrolysers, advanced storage materials, modular infrastructure, and smart energy management systems, enabling seamless integration across the value chain.
By supporting the full spectrum – from green power generation to industrial and mobility applications – the SIGHT scheme strengthens India’s green hydrogen ecosystem, drives down costs, enhances energy security, and accelerates progress toward achieving national climate and sustainability goals.
Q. From your flagship project at NEOM to work in India, what lessons can Kshema Power bring to support the country’s hydrogen ambitions?
Our flagship involvement in the NEOM green hydrogen project has given us valuable exposure to the scale, complexity, and innovation required to execute one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy and hydrogen initiatives. Key lessons include building integrated ecosystems where renewable power, hydrogen production, storage, and offtake are aligned from the very beginning; ensuring strong collaboration across government, developers, EPC partners, and technology providers; and creating robust infrastructure capable of delivering long-term reliability and cost efficiency. When we look at India, these lessons become directly relevant. India’s hydrogen ambitions are not only about decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors but also about positioning the country as a global clean energy leader. The development of green hydrogen here will accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, reduce emissions, and support energy security by harnessing abundant renewable resources like solar and wind. More importantly, it has the potential to reshape the energy market by opening new avenues for industrial decarbonization, creating export opportunities, and fostering innovation-driven growth across sectors.
