Brussels, Belgium, 17th of June 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.
Overall, the process rigorously assessed the Kakinada project’s green hydrogen production processes against CertifHy’s EU RFNBO Voluntary Scheme, which ensures that renewable hydrogen is produced using around-the-clock carbon-free energy and adheres to European-wide legislative criteria for the decarbonization of the transport and industrial sectors.
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 othersthrough 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 experienceas a hydrogen and e-fuels’ certification pure player.”
About AM Green Group: AM Green, incorporated by the founders of Hyderabad-based Greenko Group, Anil Chalamalasetty and Mahesh Kolli, is one of India’s leading energy transition solutions providers. AM Green is leveraging a track record of entrepreneurship in pioneering new technologies and pathways to shape the future of energy. We aim to become one of the most cost-competitive producers of green hydrogen, green ammonia, and other green molecules in the world. In India, AM Green is developing production capabilities for green molecules (green hydrogen, green ammonia, biofuels, e-methanol, sustainable aviation fuels and various downstream high value chemicals) for decarbonization in hard-to-abate industries. The venture will also set up an international renewables and storage business and a JV for making electrolysers with John Cockerill of Belgium.
About CertifHy: CertifHy is a frontrunner in the realm of renewable hydrogen and e-fuels’ certification, providing a comprehensive suite of tools to empower stakeholders engaged in the energy transition. It operates two schemes — the CertifHy EU Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) Voluntary Scheme and the CertifHy Non-Governmental Certificate (NGC) Scheme — which aim to verify the sustainability and origin of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives. CertifHy also offers pre-certification, which familiarizes companies with the data collection and documentation process required for official certification, and an in-house learning platform — CertifHy Academy — to equip Economic Operators and Certification Bodies with the expertise needed to navigate the complex landscape of hydrogen certification. It fosters collaboration through its Stakeholder Platform, which invites representatives of the industry, government, and academia to shape the future development of hydrogen certification systems. Together, CertifHy’s robust certification schemes and knowledge-building resources pave the way for a cleaner energy future. For more information, visit www.certifhy.eu
About Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a world leader in inspection, certification, and laboratory testing services with a powerful purpose: to shape a world of trust by ensuring responsible progress. With a vision to be the preferred partner for customers’ excellence and sustainability, the company innovates to help them navigate change. Created in 1828, Bureau Veritas’ 83,000 employees deliver services in 140 countries. The company’s technical experts support customers to address challenges in quality, health and safety, environmental protection, and sustainability. Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the CAC 40 ESG, CAC Next 20, SBF 120 indices and is part of the CAC SBT 1.5° index. Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI. For more information, visit www.bureauveritas.com, and follow us on Twitter (@bureauveritas) and LinkedIn
About Hinicio: Hinicio is a strategic and technical consulting firm specializing in the energy transition, mobility, and industrial sustainability. Recognized globally for its expertise in hydrogen and its derivatives, the firm services clients across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Since 2006, it has helped public and private organizations formulate their corporate and national strategies, develop public policies, make investment decisions, and execute complex projects related to hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, e-mobility, e-fuels, eSAF, and CCUS across the entire value chain. Over the past 15 years, Hinicio has contributed its expertise to more than 700 studies in over 35 countries. Hinicio is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and has offices in Washington, D.C., Paris, Rotterdam, Santiago de Chile, and Bogota, with additional commercial representation in Mexico.
Media Relations for AM Green Ammonia Mr Suheil Imtiaz Sr Manager, Public Affairs & Strategic Communications Email: suheil.m@amgreen.com Mobile: + 91 94401 59289 | Media Relations for CertifHy Mr Sébastien Galand Marketing & Communication Manager Email: sebastien.galand@certifhy.eu Mobile: +32 477 903835 |
