SFC Energy, a Germany-based supplier of hydrogen and methanol fuel cells for stationary and mobile hybrid power supply solutions, and FC TecNrgy, India’s fuel cell-based alternate energy and power management solution provider, have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to build a new manufacturing facility for hydrogen and methanol fuel cells and further market development in India.
As part of the agreement, SFC Energy established a subsidiary SFC Energy India, which will be located in Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, the high-tech zone of the Indian capital region of Greater Delhi.
SFC Energy said that in the future, the subsidiary will take over the production of the EFOY hydrogen and EFOY methanol fuel cells and quality assurance, while FCTec will continue to be SFC’s ‘Go To Market’ partner. In this role, FCTec handles the design, development, installation, and integration of customer-specific fuel cell solutions, as well as the development of other key peripheral system components for such solutions and after-sales service.
SFC Energy India and FCTec have agreed that the local companies will have a mutual shareholding, and the corporate links and the joint plans for the future are intended to meet the requirements of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which aims to stimulate investments in India, promote innovation, build competencies, protect intellectual property, and create a first-class production infrastructure in the area for both partners to create highly interesting Indian market.
Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy, said: “We have been active in the Indian market since 2016, are familiar with the local requirements and needs, and work successfully and trustingly with FCTec there. With this important step for our company, we want to further advance the expansion of our Asia business with India as the core market and make even better use of the potential through customer proximity.”
“We also benefit from the firm political will of the Indian government to massively promote the production of clean energy and the reduction of CO2 emissions. We can contribute to this with our fuel cells, for example, to replace the diesel generators that are widespread in India. The opening in Gurgaon is therefore also a strong sign in the global race-to-zero.”
Karandeep Singh, Founder of FCTec, stated: “Our PM Narendra Modi and the Indian government have set a goal to significantly reduce carbon emissions through technological innovation. This and recent political measures and initiatives have given small start-ups like FCTec a huge boost.”
“Hydrogen fuel cells will be one of the key components of India’s hydrogen economy and we are very excited to be a part of the clean energy revolution to come. Because our fuel cells can be used as solution components to replace the diesel/gasoline generators that are widely used in India.”
India intends to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 and wants to become climate-neutral by 2070.
In January 2023, the Union Cabinet of India, chaired by PM Modi, approved the ‘National Green Hydrogen Mission,’ which aims to make the country a global hub for the production, utilisation, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives, as well as help it become energy independent while also decarbonising major sectors of its economy.