VOC Port becomes the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen and surpass 1 MW solar power

V. O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Thoothukudi has become the first Indian port to successfully produce green hydrogen and achieve over 1 MW of rooftop power generation, said Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson of VOC Port, while addressing the media here on Friday.

The media briefing was a part of the one-day conference on Green Ports and Shipping-Chartering Sustainable Maritime Future, organised under NAVIC Cell-3 (Green Initiatives and Pollution Control) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The conference was organised as a part of a nationwide series of thematic workshops and roadshows being conducted ahead of the India Maritime Week 2025, to be held in October in Mumbai. The event has been planned to showcase India’s maritime excellence, policy direction and innovation.

Addressing the media, Mr. Purohit said that the primary objective of the conference fosters a unified and actionable dialogue to drive India’s ports and shipping industry towards net zero emissions. He added that the NAVIC Cell-3 has already begun substantial results, with several major ports including VOC Port Authority transitioning their internal system to energy-energy efficient alternatives.

“We are also in the process of establishing a 750 cubic metre green methanol pilot bunkering facility and initiated a 25 tonnes per day municipal solid waste based on green methanol production project,” said Mr. Purohit.

The conference featured two sessions focusing on topics Decarbonisation in the Maritime Sector and Green Financing and Policy Frameworks. The inaugural session of the conference included a keynote address by Vijay Kumar, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India.

During his address, Mr. Vijay Kumar emphasised the need for sustainability in India’s maritime sector. He further added that to realise India’s 2070 net-zero emission target required coordinated efforts. The NAVIC Cell of the ministry was coordinating various efforts to create environmentally friendly inland waterways across India comprehensively. He also noted that the department was working on multiple fronts, including transitioning towards renewable energy, adopting energy-efficient equipment, promoting green fuels such as LNG, ammonia, hydrogen and upgrading ports equipment.

Dignitaries including Abhay Bakre, IRSEE, Mission Director NGHM, Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, Malini Shankar, Vice Chancellor, IMU, Rajesh Soundararajan, Deputy Chairperson, VOC Port Authority and other officials were present at the conference.