India is accelerating the decarbonisation of its major ports, combining green hydrogen deployment, electrification, and renewable energy integration under a coordinated national strategy. Backed by the Maritime Vision 2030 framework, the approach aims to turn ports into low-carbon industrial hubs while maintaining operational scale.

A key pillar is the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), replacing diesel-powered tugboats with electric and hybrid alternatives. Major facilities including Deendayal Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Visakhapatnam Port and V.O. Chidambaranar Port have already placed orders. At the same time, ports are electrifying equipment, deploying zero-emission trucks, and installing shore-to-ship power systems to cut emissions while vessels are docked.

Hydrogen is being positioned as the next step. Three ports — Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority — have been designated as Green Hydrogen Hubs. Early infrastructure is already in place: a 1 MW electrolyser at Deendayal, land allocations for large-scale hydrogen and ammonia projects, and new handling terminals including ammonia and methanol bunkering capacity.

The numbers are aggressive. By 2030, ports are targeting over 60% renewable energy use, 50% electrified equipment, and a 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions per tonne of cargo. Around 180 projects have already been approved across modernization and green initiatives, showing the scale of the push.

Financial backing is also starting to flow. At Paradip Port Authority, a hydrogen and ammonia handling project valued at ₹797.17 crore [$96 million] is being developed through a public-private model. Meanwhile, incentives totaling ₹53.39 crore [$6.4 million] have been distributed to ship recycling yards to support cleaner operations.

Source:  Fuel Cells Works