Posted on 01 Sep 2022
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) wants to make India a credible new energy alternative to China, says chairman Mukesh Ambani.
“We are well on our way to create a manufacturing ecosystem, which will be fully integrated with secure and self-sufficient supply chains,” the official told the company’s 45th annual general meeting on 29 August. The conglomerate is investing in solar PV, battery and electrolysers to become a leader both in battery technology and energy storage, as well as green hydrogen and fuel cell systems.
“Decarbonising the global economy will require multi-decade investment in green and clean energy to the tune of $5 trillion per year globally,” he says.
RIL aims to create an end-to-end battery ecosystem – from battery materials to cell manufacturing, leading up to packs and battery management systems, to deliver “safe and reliable batteries with high energy density and fast charging capabilities,” he adds. That’s why it’s been investing in companies promising “superior chemistry” technologies such as Lithium Werks (LFP), Faradion (sodium-ion) and Ambri (liquid metal technology). These partnerships enable “less to nil dependence on noble metals,” notes Ambani.
RIL should start battery pack production by 2023 and scale up to a fully integrated 5 gigawatt-hours of annual cell to pack production facility by 2025. Further scaling up to 50 GWh/year is planned by 2027, Kallanish learns.
Ambani notes that Reliance isn’t new to hydrogen, being one of the largest producers of grey hydrogen globally today. It intends to start progressively transitioning from grey to green hydrogen by 2025, “after proving our cost and performance targets.”
It has partnered with Denmark’s Stiesdal to accelerate cost reduction and commercialisation of its pressurised alkaline technology. The company is also in discussions to partner with other leading electrolysis players to set up a giga-scale electrolyser manufacturing facility at Jamnagar refinery, Ambani adds.
“Our singular aim is to deliver green hydrogen at the lowest cost,” he says, without disclosing figures. Initial plans will require 20 GW of solar power generation capacity, but RIL is prepared to “double investment” to scale up its manufacturing ecosystem.
“Reliance aspires to make India a world leader in new energy manufacturing and a credible alternative to China. Of course, we have a long way to go,” the chairman says. “India’s transition — as also the world’s transition — from fossil fuels to renewables will provide Reliance with an opportunity for continuous hyper-growth over many decades.”
Source:Mysteel Global
