India's ambitious foray into the green ammonia market is encountering early-stage hurdles, as the deadline for its inaugural tender was recently extended due to a surge in bidder queries. The extension highlights the government's acknowledgment of the sector's nascent state, and the need for bidders to fully understand the complexities involved in a rapidly evolving industry.
In June, the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had invited bids for the selection of ammonia producers for the annual supply of 5.39 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of green ammonia. The bids were invited under the SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition) programme of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). The last date for submission of bids was July 29, according to a Mercom report. However, the revised tender document shows the deadline has been extended to September 30.
Green ammonia is made by mixing nitrogen from the air with hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy (RE) sources, like wind or solar power. It is primarily used in the production of fertilisers, as a clean fuel for shipping, and as a potential energy carrier that's used to store and transport hydrogen.