Toyota, Ohmium Partner to Develop Green Hydrogen Power Solutions

• Toyota and Ohmium partner to develop green hydrogen microgrids.
• TKM provides fuel cells, Ohmium leads design and testing.
• Focus on off-grid use, supporting India’s clean energy goals.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced a partnership with Bengaluru-based Ohmium International to jointly create integrated green hydrogen-based power solutions in India. The joint collaboration will explore the feasibility of hydrogen-powered microgrids for different use-cases, such as data centres, and also environmental-sensitive areas.

The two companies formalized this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under the MoU, TKM will provide to Ohmium hydrogen fuel cell modules, technological know-how and system integration. Ohmium will then design, develop and performance test the microgrid prototype.

TKM Deputy Managing Director Swapnesh R Maru said, "Going beyond mobility, we would want to explore the utilisation of hydrogen, particularly green hydrogen, as a fuel source for areas which are catering beyond mobility. It could be for stationary power generation, rural powers, for industrial office of spaces".

Ohmium is a champion of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) hydrogen technology and develops modular, low-cost modular electrolyzers that promote scalability in green hydrogen production.

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This initiative is working to broaden the horizon of hydrogen fuel cell technology application beyond the automotive sector. Noted TKM Deputy Managing Director Swapnesh R Maru, hydrogen storage in rural space is challenging, considering Toyota is a step ahead with hydrogen-powered vehicles like the Mirai.

"What exactly will we do through this MOU is we will see the feasibility of making this micro grid -- where we make an electrolyser and a fuel cell and integrate. We will develop a prototype, check the performance in a real world condition to see the output levels and then we will also keep an eye for the real world usage", he added.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reiterated a lot, the importance of hydrogen as a clean and renewable energy source as an indispensable part of building a self-reliant and carbon-neutral India, at the time of signing the MoU. More importantly, the partnership will help bring green hydrogen into use for sustainable, off-grid energy alternatives.

"This collaboration is a significant step towards realising the full potential of hydrogen in India's energy security, and together we can create a cleaner, happier society, and position for India, as a leader in sustainable energy", said Ohmium International CEO and Co-founder Arne Ballantine.