- First Indian Project to be Awarded CertifHy Pre-Certification for its Green Ammonia Plant in Kakinada
- Pre-Certification Signals Alignment with European Markets Requirements for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO)
Hyderabad, India, June 17, 2024 : AM Green (formerly Greenko ZeroC), one of the world’s leading energy transition solutions providers, has received CertifHy EU RFNBO pre-certification for their green ammonia project in Kakinada, India. This marks a significant milestone for AM Green and is an acknowledgment of India’s green hydrogen and ammonia potential. AM Green will be the first company to achieve this milestone for projects based out of India. This pre-certification puts AM Green in a leading position to unlock the EU RFNBO market, a firm advantage as the company sets out to develop one of the world’s largest green ammonia facilities in Kakinada. By 2030, its production capacity will increase from one to five million tons per annum of green ammonia–equivalent to one million tonne per annum of hydrogen.
CertifHy, a leading renewable hydrogen and e-fuels certification provider, partnered with Hinicio and Bureau Veritas to undertake the pre-certification. Hinicio, a renewable hydrogen consultancy, first conducted a comprehensive review to ensure project compliance and develop a long-term strategy. Bureau Veritas subsequently assessed AM Green’s plant operations against CertifHy’s EU RFNBO Voluntary Scheme. These combined efforts paved the way for AM Green to receive pre-certification from CertifHy.
The European Union (EU) enforces some of the world’s most mature and stringent regulations for renewable fuels to date. AM Green’s successful RFNBO pre-certification demonstrates its commitment to those criteria, facilitating the supply of clean energy from India to the demanding EU market, positioning the company as a leader in the green hydrogen and ammonia sectors, and paving the way for a project that adheres to the strictest global standards.
Pre-certification: A Stepping Stone to Success
Pre-certification is increasingly sought after by companies developing renewable energy projects, as it offers several key advantages. It acts as a critical evaluation to identify potential weaknesses early in the design phase, saving time and resources by avoiding costly modifications later. Pre-certification is also perceived as a powerful instrument for the facilitation of Final Investment Decisions (FID) or offtake negotiations.
Mr. Mahesh Kolli, President of AM Green, said, “The pre-certification awarded by CertifHy to our Kakinada plant underscores our commitment to providing carbon-free energy solutions globally while meeting the highest standards like EU RFNBO norms. This is a significant milestone for AM Green as it reinforces our position as a leading energy transition solutions platform helping to decarbonize industries like refineries, shipping, fertilizers, power generation, chemicals and others through low-cost green molecules and its derivatives.”
Laurence Boisramé, Bureau Veritas Global Director for Hydrogen, said, “RFNBO rules set by the European Commission will apply not only to hydrogen producers in Europe but also to any producer targeting the European market. This creates a lot of interest as well as many questions about the interpretation of these regulations outside of the EU. At Bureau Veritas, we are convinced that project pre-certification is the best way to advance toward practical application. As a trusted certification body for CertifHy’s EU RFNBO Voluntary Scheme, and with a network of 8000 auditors around the world, Bureau Veritas is thrilled to contribute to accelerating the international trade of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.”
Patrick Maio, Hinicio CEO, said, “Pre-certification serves as a critical tool for RNFBO-hydrogen suppliers striving to guarantee project compliance, as well as offtakers seeking to verify the attributes of their procured molecules. Thanks to its global experience and deep knowledge of the Indian context, Hinicio is uniquely positioned to advise international players like AM Green on project design and offtake, European market entry, and long-term compliance with EU regulations.”
Matthieu Boisson, CertifHy Managing Director, said, “AM Green’s achievement of pre-certification demonstrates its commitment to being a strong contributor to India’s renewable ammonia production. This project sets a strong precedent for future collaborations and strengthens the global market for clean energy solutions. CertifHy aims to position itself as a global market instrument, and as such, strives for the highest level of expertise and assistance by leveraging its experience as a hydrogen and e-fuels’ certification pure player.”
