The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified standards for green ammonia and green methanol under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, establishing emission thresholds and certification frameworks for both fuels.

The Union Cabinet had approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023 to facilitate demand creation, production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen with an initial outlay of ₹197.44 billion (~$2.16 billion).

Green Ammonia Standard

Under the green ammonia standard, green ammonia is defined as ammonia (NH₃) produced using green hydrogen. Renewable energy used in the process may include renewable energy that is either directly consumed, stored in an energy storage system, or banked with the grid.

The standard mandates that total non-biogenic greenhouse gas emissions from green hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis, purification, compression, and on-site storage must not exceed 0.38 kg CO₂ equivalent/kg of ammonia, calculated as an average over the preceding 12 months.

Green Methanol Standard

Similarly, green methanol is defined as methanol (CH₃OH) produced using green hydrogen, with renewable energy, including stored or banked renewable energy.

The total non-biogenic greenhouse gas emissions from hydrogen production, methanol synthesis, purification, and on-site storage must not exceed 0.44 kg CO₂-equivalent/kg of methanol on an annual average basis.

The notification also specifies that carbon dioxide used in methanol synthesis may be sourced from biogenic sources, direct air capture, or existing industrial sources, though MNRE may revise the list of eligible carbon dioxide sources prospectively with grandfathering provisions.

Both standards refer to the previously notified green hydrogen standard of 2023 and provide that detailed certification and monitoring methodologies will be issued separately by MNRE.

Also, tenders issued prior to the notification date may continue under earlier conditions, though procuring entities may align the tenders with the new standards with mutual consent.

In December last year, MNRE clarified that renewable energy projects supplying power exclusively to green hydrogen and green ammonia developers who have been awarded capacity under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Program’s Mode-2A and Mode-2B will be eligible for a relaxation from the requirement to use solar cells from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II.

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