Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has commissioned a 300 kW green hydrogen (GH₂) electrolyser plant on a pilot basis at its Manesar manufacturing facility, as the automaker expands its use of renewable energy in manufacturing operations.
The green hydrogen generated at the plant will be blended with natural gas and used as process fuel in manufacturing.
Solar energy converted into hydrogen
The pilot plant is designed to maximise the utilisation of solar power generated at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility.
Solar energy generated during holidays, which would otherwise remain unused, will be used to produce green hydrogen. The hydrogen will then be stored and subsequently used in manufacturing operations.
Maruti Suzuki said the learnings from the pilot will help it evaluate the wider adoption of green hydrogen technology across its manufacturing facilities in Haryana and Gujarat.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd Managing Director & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said, “Just like we have adopted a multi-pathway approach for products, we have also embarked on a journey of multiple renewable energy solutions for manufacturing operations. The commissioning of our 300 kW green hydrogen plant is aligned with the Government of India’s Green Hydrogen Mission.”
Target to cut manufacturing emissions
The company is combining green hydrogen with other renewable energy initiatives, including solar power, biogas and battery energy storage, as it seeks to reduce the carbon intensity of its manufacturing operations.
Maruti Suzuki currently estimates carbon emissions from its manufacturing operations at 615,000 tonnes and aims to reduce this to 266,000 tonnes by FY 2030-31.
Takeuchi said, “India is emerging as a manufacturing powerhouse, and its competitive position may not depend solely on cost and quality, but also on CO2 intensity. With such initiatives, we are building capability today so that we can support a low-carbon and more energy-efficient manufacturing ecosystem tomorrow.”
The company’s approach draws on the Suzuki Motor Corporation philosophy of Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi, which focuses on making processes and products smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter and more efficient.
Maruti expands renewable energy portfolio
Maruti Suzuki is also deploying in-house solar power plants and procuring renewable electricity through government sources and power purchase agreements with third-party solar and wind energy providers.
The company is in the advanced stage of setting up a 10 tonnes per day biogas plant at its Kharkhoda facility, which is scheduled for commissioning during FY 2026-27.
It has also commissioned a 1 MWh battery energy storage system at Kharkhoda.
The company has begun integrating compressed biogas (CBG) as a process fuel. Its board has approved four CBG projects with a combined investment allocation of ₹561 crore.
Separately, Suzuki Motor Corporation, in partnership with organisations including the National Dairy Development Board and dairy industry unions, plans to establish 10 biogas plants across India. Three of these plants are already operational in Gujarat.