SFC Energy AG, a supplier of hydrogen and methanol fuel cells for stationary and mobile hybrid power solutions, has launched the manufacturing of hydrogen and methanol fuel cells at its New Delhi/Gurgaon site in India. Together with long-standing Indian partner FCTecNrgy Pvt Ltd (FCT), the production facility was built and handed over in just six months.

In the medium term, annual sales of around €100 million are to be generated here with the development and production of innovative energy supply systems. The local production is in line with the “Make in India” initiative and will make an important contribution to a climate-friendly positioning of the Indian economy.

India has formulated its own targets for the expansion of renewable energies and the development of green hydrogen production by 2030. The Indian government is also striving to replace polluting energy systems such as diesel generators with sustainable energy solutions in order to reduce CO₂ emissions significantly.

On 4 January 2023, the Indian government adopted the “National Green Hydrogen Mission” proclaimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under which, for example, generators in railways, the military and in critical infrastructure will also be replaced with emission-free fuel cells.

SFC Energy has been active in India since 2016 and is now investing in the local market development as well as in its own production capacities. The mobile and stationary fuel cell solutions manufactured in the new factory produce clean electricity based on hydrogen and methanol. SFC’s customers in India already include public sector clients and civilian users of clean hydrogen- and methanol-based power where grid supply is not available or not stable enough.

Most recently, the company booked major orders worth €33 million for fuel cell-based energy supply for the Indian armed forces. Other current major projects include the planned replacement of diesel generators at Indian Railway and Border Roads Directorate as well as various smart city projects.

In February 2023, during the meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the agreement between SFC and FCT was signed, marking the starting point for the production of fuel cells in India. In the future, SFC’s subsidiary SFC Energy India Ltd. will be responsible for the production of EFOY Hydrogen and EFOY Methanol fuel cells as well as quality assurance, while FCT will continue to be SFC’s “Go To Market” partner.

In this role, FCT will be responsible for the design, development, installation and integration of custom fuel cell solutions, as well as the development of other key peripheral system components for such solutions and after-sales service. To underline the strategic importance of the partnership, SFC Energy India and FCT have agreed on a mutual equity participation of the local companies.

SFC Energy distributes its products worldwide and has sold more than 60,000 fuel cells to date. The company is headquartered in Brunnthal/Munich, Germany, operates production facilities in the Netherlands, Romania, Canada and India.