NTPC Green Energy Invites Bids for Hydrogen Refueling Station at Kandla
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of the Indian power giant NTPC Limited, has officially opened bids for constructing a state-of-the-art Hydrogen Refueling Station (HRS) at Kandla in Gujarat. The announcement came through the tender NGEL-CS-H2-GUJARAT-001(R), issued on May 1, 2026, marking a pivotal development in India’s growing hydrogen mobility sector.
This project, part of the Green Hydrogen Mobility Project, aims to accelerate clean fuel adoption and reduce carbon emissions in transportation. The station will integrate advanced hydrogen technology capable of refueling 11 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) simultaneously, fueling them at a high pressure of 350 bar.
Project Specifications and Bid Requirements
The hydrogen station’s design will incorporate a 210 kg per day electrolyser system—hydrogen production equipment supplied by NGEL—compressing hydrogen at 20 kg per hour into storage cylinders holding up to 540 kg at 500 bar. These technical components emphasize the facility’s capacity for large-scale, efficient hydrogen refueling.
The winning bidder will oversee all project stages on a turnkey basis, including design, equipment supply, construction, commissioning, and crucially, a comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) service for 10 years. This long-term responsibility highlights NGEL’s focus on reliability and sustainability for the hydrogen infrastructure.
Supporting infrastructure will include nitrogen generation for safety purging, fire safety and suppression systems, plus a centralized control system using SCADA/EMS technology, enabling real-time monitoring and operational control—critical for the station’s safe and efficient performance.
Who Can Bid and Bid Process Timeline
The tender invites domestic Class-I and Class-II local suppliers with relevant experience. Specific qualification routes target companies with prior hydrogen refueling station work, process industry projects, or CNG station development. Eligible bidders must be EPC contractors with projects worth a minimum of ₹47 crore and demonstrate a consistent average annual turnover of at least ₹59 crore over the past three financial years.
Financial stability is critical: bidders must have a net worth at least equal to their paid-up share capital. Furthermore, the tender enforces a strict two-envelope bidding process separating technical from financial proposals. Submissions require an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹1 crore, without which bids will be disqualified.
The tender sets tight deadlines: queries must be submitted by May 11, 2026. Final bids are due by 3:00 PM IST on May 21, 2026, with techno-commercial bids opened the following day at 4:00 PM IST.
Global and U.S. Relevance: Hydrogen’s Rising Role in Clean Energy
This move by NGEL signals growing momentum in hydrogen infrastructure, a development watched closely by energy sectors worldwide, including in the United States and Colorado, where hydrogen is emerging as a critical clean energy vector. Colorado’s expanding hydrogen initiatives mirror these international efforts, emphasizing transport decarbonization, clean fuel alternatives, and technology innovation.
With governments and corporations racing to cut emissions, the Kandla hydrogen station project exemplifies global transitions toward a greener fuel mix. For U.S. readers, this also underscores emerging international markets and technologies fueling hydrogen’s rapid growth—offering insight into future clean energy collaborations and investments.
What’s Next
As bids are evaluated starting May 22, 2026, this project sets a benchmark for hydrogen infrastructure delivery in India and potentially influences similar projects worldwide. Industry watchers and potential partners will monitor for bid winners and timelines for construction and commissioning.
For Colorado and U.S. readers tracking renewable energy advances, the Kandla hydrogen station bid invitation represents a crucial indicator of accelerating global hydrogen mobility networks—a key part of the worldwide clean energy shift taking hold now.
