India Notifies Standards For Green Ammonia And Green Methanol

The Green Ammonia standard requires a total non-biogenic greenhouse gas emission arising from Green Hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis, purification, compression and on-site storage of not more than zero point three eight kilogram (kg) CO2 equivalent per kilogram (kg) of ammonia, calculated as an average over the preceding 12-month period. The Green Methanol standard requires a total non-biogenic greenhouse gas emission arising from Green Hydrogen production, methanol synthesis, purification and on-site storage of not more than zero point four four kilogram (kg) CO2 equivalent per kilogram (kg) of methanol, calculated as an average over the preceding 12-month period.

The notification states that carbon dioxide for Green Methanol production may be sourced from biogenic sources, direct air capture or existing industrial sources, and that the Ministry may revise eligible sources prospectively with appropriate grandfathering provisions. Renewable electricity used in production is deemed to include generation that is stored in energy storage systems or banked with the grid in accordance with applicable regulations. Detailed methodologies for measurement, reporting, monitoring, on-site verification and certification will be issued separately by the Ministry.

The standards are expected to facilitate decarbonisation of fertilizers, shipping, power and heavy industry while strengthening India as a reliable producer and exporter of green fuels. The notification allows existing tenders and solicitations to continue under prior terms but permits procuring entities to align arrangements with the new provisions where mutually feasible. The move is intended to provide greater certainty for industry, investors and other stakeholders engaged in development of green hydrogen derivatives.