POWERING INDIA’S HYDROGEN FUTURE
- BEdge Correspondent
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
SRM University-AP has partnered with JK Srivastava Hynfra P.S.A. Ltd to launch a Centre of Excellence in Hydrogen Technologies, strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s push to become India’s green hydrogen hub
A quiet but consequential partnership is taking shape in Andhra Pradesh, where SRM University-AP has joined hands with JK Srivastava Hynfra P.S.A. Ltd to build a Centre of Excellence in Hydrogen Technologies — an initiative designed to push green hydrogen from policy vision into scalable reality.
The collaboration is closely aligned with the state’s aspiration to emerge as India’s Green Hydrogen Hub by 2030, anchored around advanced research, industry-ready innovation and a new generation of hydrogen specialists. Beyond laboratories and classrooms, the Centre is expected to map the future of hydrogen storage, transportation, electrolyser manufacturing and real-world applications — from fuel-cell trains to clean mobility solutions.
The momentum was formally set in motion at the Green Hydrogen Summit hosted by SRM University-AP, where N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled the ambitious Green Hydrogen Valley–Andhra Pradesh vision, positioning the state as a strategic player in India’s clean energy transition. SRM University-AP was simultaneously named the nodal agency to spearhead advanced hydrogen research.
At the heart of this effort lies the Centre of Excellence — conceived as a bridge between government ambition, academic depth and industrial execution.
“The Centre will focus on developing high-efficiency catalysts for electrolysis, exploring alternative water sources including direct seawater electrolysis, advancing novel hydrogen storage solutions, and examining hydrogen’s potential in powering data centres,” explained Prof. D. Narayana Rao, Executive Director – Research, SRM Group of Institutions. He described the initiative as “an excellent convergence of government, industry and academia.”
The industry scale behind the partnership is equally striking. The JK Srivastava Group, together with Hynfra, has committed ₹35,000 crore to establish a green ammonia facility near Mulapeta, close to Srikakulam, projected to be operational by 2029. The project is expected to generate over 10,000 jobs and place Andhra Pradesh firmly on the global green hydrogen map.
Framing the broader policy ecosystem, Dr Kamalakar Babu, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of NREDCAP, pointed to the state’s Integrated Clean Energy policy as a catalyst for long-term transformation.
“The visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, supported by state agencies, is steering Andhra Pradesh towards net-zero emissions by 2047. Green hydrogen is not just a project — it is a transformative mission,” he noted.
For the industry partners, the opportunity stretches far beyond domestic demand.
“Leveraging its vast coastline, the state is targeting exports of 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia to Europe by 2029,” said JK Srivastava, Founder and Chairman of JK Srivastava Hynfra. “The Centre of Excellence at SRM AP will showcase advanced electrolysers, hydrogen storage systems and even smart hydrogen-led cities.”
Adding a global technology perspective, Artur Kolakowski of JK Srivastava Hynfra and Pawel Trojanowski of Rockfin spoke about next-generation hydrogen production powered by renewables, alongside high-pressure, liquid hydrogen and chemical carrier storage solutions designed for large-scale deployment.
For SRM University-AP, the partnership represents more than a research milestone — it is a strategic repositioning of education itself.
“This MoU integrates hydrogen technologies into our academics, research and leadership training, reinforcing our commitment to building sustainable energy solutions in collaboration with industry pioneers,” said Vice Chancellor Prof. Ch Satish Kumar.
As Andhra Pradesh accelerates its clean energy ambitions, the SRM University-AP–JK Srivastava Hynfra alliance stands out as a blueprint for how policy vision, academic intelligence and industrial investment can converge to build a hydrogen-powered future — not in theory, but in practice.