Kerala’s Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) has invited expressions of interest for demonstration projects in green hydrogen, smart energy, and industrial decarbonization.

Bids must be submitted by June 18, 2025. ANERT will shortlist and communicate the selection by June 20.

Selected projects must focus on the following areas of thematic interests:

Green Hydrogen Technologies

• Hydrogen production from renewable energy sources, such as electrolysis, biomass, and biogas
• Hydrogen storage, transportation, and distribution infrastructure
• End-use applications such as hydrogen mobility (buses, trucks, vessels, aviation), power generation, or hydrogen blending for industrial use
• System integration solutions involving hybrid renewable energy and hydrogen

Smart Energy Systems

• AI-based grid or energy optimization tools
• Digital twin applications for system control and simulation
• Blockchain-enabled energy traceability or transactions
• Virtual power projects and distributed energy orchestration
• Electric vehicle-grid response systems and rail-to-grid energy storage models
• Intelligent converters and demand-side automation technologies

Industrial Decarbonization

• Low-carbon fuels and electrification of industrial heat
• Integration of renewable energy in energy-intensive sectors
• Circular economy models such as waste-to-fuel or waste heat recovery
• Efficient energy management systems for manufacturing and processing units
• Clean transition of industrial clusters or micro, small, and medium enterprises through shared infrastructure

Hybrid and Integrated Demonstrations

• Combined applications of renewable energy and hydrogen for logistics, ports, or agriculture
• Multi-utility demonstration zones integrating storage, renewable energy, and green fuels
• Community-scale pilot models with replication potential

Selected bidders can apply for external funding, capped at 50%.

The projects will be funded under two categories based on total project size, the level of external support sought, and the co-funding commitments expected from ANERT and the project developers:

• Projects costing up to $10 million (~₹861.82 million) will be allowed external funding of up to $5 million (~₹430.72 million). The remaining cost will be shared between ANERT and the project developer, with the agency’s share ranging from 20% to 50%
• Projects costing up to $40 million (~₹3.44 billion) will be allowed external funding of up to $20 million (~₹1.72 billion). The remaining cost will be shared between ANERT and the project developer, with the agency’s share capped at 20%

ANERT’s share in project costs can increase to between 60% and 70% if the project is expected to have a wide-ranging impact and is considered an important asset for Kerala or the country.

Bidders must be Indian entities with the technical, financial, and institutional capacity to implement late-stage demonstration projects in the domains of clean energy, green hydrogen, or industrial decarbonization.

Bidders must also fulfill the following criteria:

• Bidders must be either private companies, public sector undertakings, research institutions, or consortiums. Bidders, or the leading entity in consortiums, must have at least three years of operational history as of the bid submission date

• Proposed projects must have a minimum technology readiness level of 6. This level would indicate that the project solution is beyond laboratory validation and ready for real-world demonstration in operational environments

• Bidders must propose projects with a clear implementation pathway with identified sites, local partnerships, and preliminary regulatory clarity. Projects demonstrating readiness for deployment within a reasonable timeframe will be preferred

• Bidders must possess, or demonstrate access to, technical and managerial capabilities necessary for project execution, directly or through confirmed partnerships

• Bidders must include a co-funding plan in their proposals, along with indicative commitments from themselves and/or their collaborators. Proposals with external funding will not be considered

• Bid proposals must clearly outline the intended impact, scalability, and relevance to Kerala or India’s clean energy transition, along with environmental and social safeguards

Recently, the National Institute of Solar Energy invited proposals to define the scope and draft the tender terms and conditions for the operation and maintenance of its green hydrogen generation, storage, and refueling facility in Gurugram, Haryana.

Earlier, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the European Union’s Trade and Technology Council invited bids to generate renewable hydrogen from agricultural, forest, and industrial biogenic waste.