A disruption test for electrolyser PLI

India will gain an edge not by producing the most number of electrolysers, but by building the smartest hydrogen ecosystems

- Vineet Mittal Chairman, Avaada Group

THIS IS NOT a doomsday warning, but a reality check. If we fail to align with rapid global shifts in hydrogen technology, nearly 80% of today's electrolyser manufacturers could be edged out by a wave of innovation they never saw coming.

The tectonic forces at play—system integration, intelligent controls, and cost compression—are already reshaping the sector's foundations. For India, which has bet big on the green hydrogen revolution through its production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the moment to recalibrate is now.

India's PLI scheme for electrolysers was a bold and necessary move to catalyse domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence. But the pace of global innovation, particularly from China, threatens to render today's investments outdated. To stay competitive and relevant, we need to evolve our approach.

The disruption is already visible. The China Energy Construction Hydrogen Company recently cleared a national review for an 8,000 normal cubic metre (Nm³)/hour flexible alkaline water electrolysis system. While it might seem like just another technological upgrade, the implications are transformational. This new generation of systems is no longer only about producing hydrogen. It is about integrating hydrogen production seamlessly with the broader energy ecosystem.