ACME Group (India) and IHI Corporation (Japan) have announced a joint venture (JV) to develop India’s largest green ammonia facility in Gopalpur, Odisha. The project follows an MoU signed in 2023, with IHI acquiring a 30% stake in ACME Clean Energy Pvt. Ltd. Land acquisition completed and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) finalized. Plant expected commissioning: 2029–30.
Key Highlights
- Production Capacity: 0.4 million tonnes of green ammonia annually.
- Carbon Savings: Over 0.8 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided per year.
- End Users: Japanese power and chemical industries.
- Exports: Primarily to Japan, reinforcing bilateral energy security and clean energy partnership.
- Development Focus Areas:
- EPC contracting
- Renewable energy integration
- Export infrastructure for ammonia evacuation
Strategic Significance
- Supports India–Japan Clean Energy Partnership (signed at the 15th Japan–India Annual Summit in Tokyo).
- Strengthens India’s position as a hub for green hydrogen & ammonia.
- Addresses challenges of energy security and climate change for both nations.
- Aligns with India’s Net Zero 2070 pledge and 500 GW renewable energy target by 2030.
- Part of India’s pipeline of $89 billion clean industrial projects, though progress slowed by financing challenges.
About Green Ammonia
- Definition: Ammonia produced from green hydrogen (via electrolysis using renewable energy) + nitrogen from air using a modified Haber-Bosch process.
- Carbon-free alternative to fossil-based ammonia.
- Applications:
- Fertilizers → carbon-neutral agriculture & food security
- Energy Storage → medium for storing excess renewable power
- Fuel → potential for shipping, aviation & power generation decarbonization
By the Numbers
- Annual Output: 0.4 million tonnes of green ammonia.
- Emission Reduction: 0.8 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.
- India’s Targets:
- Net Zero by 2070
- 500 GW renewable capacity by 2030
- Sector Challenge: Only 1 project in India’s $89 billion clean industrial project pipeline reached final investment decision in H1 2025 (Mission Possible Partnership report).
Key Facts
- ACME Group: An Indian cleantech firm focusing on renewable energy & green hydrogen/ammonia.
- IHI Corporation (Japan): A Japanese engineering and heavy industry firm specializing in energy, infrastructure, and chemicals.
- Gopalpur, Odisha: Known for Gopalpur Port and growing as an industrial hub on India’s east coast.
- Haber-Bosch Process: An industrial method of synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen + hydrogen (traditionally fossil-fuel based, now adapted for green hydrogen).
- India–Japan Energy Partnership: Includes clean hydrogen, ammonia, renewables, and energy efficiency projects under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2017).