Ohmium Joins Forces to Establish First Indian CO2-to-Green Methanol Plant

Ohmium International collaborated with Breathe Applied Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), and Spirare Energy to develop the first CO₂-to-green methanol plant in India. CO₂ captured from the Singareni Thermal Power Plant will be combined with green hydrogen generated by Ohmium’s proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers to produce green methanol. Additional work from Ohmium’s partners include:

• Researchers from Breathe Applied Sciences and JNCASR developed a process to synthesize green methanol from CO₂ emissions
• Spirare Energy cooperated with Ohmium to procure the PEM electrolyzer system

“Ohmium is pleased to collaborate again with Spirare Energy, a leader in sustainable development projects in India,” said Arne Ballantine, CEO of Ohmium International. “This is our second project together, and an important one, as green methanol has the potential to advance India’s energy independence and reduce CO₂ emissions. Building on our previous success, this follow-on project demonstrates our joint dedication to India’s energy future.”

Singareni Thermal Power Plant; image credit: Singareni Collieries Co.

Industrial Methanol

Methanol is typically utilized as fuel or raw material in industrial processes, so minimizing or completely eliminating the carbon intensity of methanol production decreases greenhouse gas emissions and the reliance on fossil fuels. CO₂-to-green methanol technologies can assist decarbonization efforts in numerous industries, such as the coal-fired thermal power sector.

“Converting CO₂ from coal-based thermal power to green methanol can significantly advance decarbonization and sustainability,” said JNCASR Professor Sebastian Peter, Breathe Applied Sciences Co-Founder and Project Leader of the CO₂-to-Green Methanol Plant. “We are excited to see our research applied in this project and looking forward to seeing it scale.”

Ohmium in India

Previously, Ohmium provided its PEM electrolyzer solutions in partnerships with India’s NTPC and Tata projects. The company also opened its PEM gigafactory in Bangalore in July 2024 and was selected for Tranche II of MNRE’s SIGHT Incentive Program in August. This recent selection helps accelerate India’s transition to a green hydrogen ecosystem.

"Spirare is pleased to collaborate with JNCASR and Ohmium on this project, which has great growth potential,” said Suhas Bhasin, CEO of Spirare Energy. “Ohmium is a trusted partner. We have worked with them previously and appreciate the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their product. Their hyper modular design helps streamline installation and scaling.”

More Ohmium News

Last month, Ohmium signed a term sheet with SwitchH2 BV—a renewable energy joint venture partnered with BW Offshore. Under the agreement, Ohmium will develop PEM electrolyzer solutions for a 300-MW offshore floating green hydrogen and ammonia synthesis project led by SwitchH2. The electrolyzers will use nearshore solar and wind power, along with treated seawater, to generate green hydrogen. Hydrogen will be fed into an on-deck ammonia synthesis unit, and the finished product will be offloaded to an ammonia carrier for transport to offtakers. Green ammonia production is anticipated by 2029.

Sited off the coast of southern Europe, the project will create an industrial-scale floating green hydrogen and ammonia production facility based on floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) technologies. Ohmium will install 300 MW of PEM electrolyzer solutions on SwitchH2’s 268-meter FPSO vessel and, upon completion, the facility will have an annual production capacity of up to 55,000 tons of green hydrogen and nearly 300,000 tons of green ammonia. This capacity is sufficient to fuel multiple oceangoing vessels for one year.