In a historic and closely watched development for India’s clean energy landscape, ACME CleanTech Solutions Private Limited has been declared the winner of the nation’s first-ever auction for green hydrogen-based ammonia. Orchestrated by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program (Mode-2A, Tranche-I), the auction marks a critical advance in India’s push to decarbonize industrial sectors—especially fertilizers—and build a robust green hydrogen economy.
Key Facts of the Auction
Winning Bidder: ACME CleanTech Solutions Private Limited.
Contract Volume: 75,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of green ammonia.
Offtaker: Paradeep Phosphates Limited, Odisha.
Discovered Tariff: ₹55.75/kg (about $641/tonne)—a record low, dramatically undercutting previous global auctions and current grey ammonia prices.
Contract Duration: 10 years of guaranteed offtake.
Auction Significance: Represents the first in a planned sequence of 13 tenders, collectively targeting a massive 724,000 MTPA of green ammonia. SECI’s intermediary role ensures stable demand and reliable cash flows to developers, backed by government payment security.
SIGHT Program—Driving India’s Green Hydrogen Future
- The SIGHT scheme, a flagship of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, is structured to:
- Lower India’s reliance on imported natural gas for ammonia/fertilizer production.
- Promote large-scale adoption of green ammonia—produced via renewable-powered electrolysis—reducing sectoral CO₂ emissions.
- Catalyze domestic manufacturing of electrolyzers and green hydrogen through incentivization, with a government outlay of ₹17,490 crore for both electrolyzer manufacturing and green hydrogen production up to 2029–30.
- Deliver economic benefits: The fixed price bid supplies Paradeep Phosphates with cost stability, while possibly co-locating green ammonia production on-site, optimizing logistics and operational savings.
Environmental impact: Green hydrogen-based ammonia emits less than 2kg CO₂ per kilogram, a giant leap over the 12kg CO₂/kg benchmark for grey hydrogen from fossil fuels.
Industry Context and Impact
Economies of Scale: At ₹55.75/kg, ACME’s winning price is roughly half the $1,153/tonne set by comparable H2Global auctions, and even lower than grey ammonia’s $515/tonne (March 2025). Subsidies and scale, paired with a 10-year fixed contract, make this a landmark deal.
Sectoral Reform: India’s ~17–19 million tonnes/year ammonia usage will increasingly pivot to green supply, insulating the sector from fossil fuel price shocks, reducing trade deficits, and supporting national decarbonization goals.
Global Ambitions: The SIGHT-linked move is foundational for India’s ambition to become a world leader in exporting green hydrogen and its derivatives, targeting 5 MMT per annum of green hydrogen production by 2030 and significant job creation in the clean energy economy.
What’s Next?
Further Rounds: This auction paves the way for 12 more tenders in the coming months as SECI implements the program.
Innovation and Investment: The successful model is expected to attract additional developers, investments, and spur rapid technology learning curve benefits.
Broader Benefits: Beyond delivering clean ammonia, the shift will generate jobs, enhance energy security, and contribute majorly to India’s 2070 net-zero target.
“This price discovery marks a watershed moment in India’s Green Hydrogen journey and reinforces the country’s vision of becoming a global hub for Green Hydrogen production. The auction witnessed intense competition, reflecting the strong investor and developer confidence in India’s green energy transition framework.” — SECI statement
ACME CleanTech’s win is a flagship milestone—signaling not only the dawn of industrial-scale green ammonia in India but also a model for how public policy, financial incentives, and industry coordination can accelerate the world’s energy transition
