Interview: Aniruddh Agrawal
Chief Strategy Officer at Airox Nigen Equipments Pvt. Ltd.
From Solar to Hydrogen: Airox Nigen’s Integrated Energy Strategy Aims for Net-Zero Transition
April 08, 2025. By Abha Rustagi

Que: India is pushing for rapid green hydrogen adoption under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. How is the company contributing to this vision?
Ans: Airox Nigen stands firmly aligned with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, actively contributing through its state-of-the-art hydrogen generation technologies. We are leveraging our expertise in on-site gas generation to design and deploy efficient, scalable, and cost-effective green hydrogen solutions tailored to India’s industrial, mobility, and energy sectors. Our focus is to make green hydrogen not only accessible but also economically viable, ensuring that Indian industries can transition smoothly towards cleaner energy sources. Additionally, our upcoming electrolyser manufacturing facility will further strengthen India’s domestic supply chain for green hydrogen equipment, reducing dependency on imports and accelerating project deployment timelines.
Que: How do you differentiate yourself from other green hydrogen solution providers in terms of technology and project execution?
Ans: Airox Nigen differentiates itself through a holistic approach that combines cutting-edge technology with focused project management. Our hydrogen generation systems integrate advanced electrolysis technology with proprietary process optimisation techniques, ensuring higher efficiency and lower operational costs. Additionally, our in-house engineering and project execution team brings decades of experience in delivering complex gas generation projects across industries. This allows us to execute hydrogen projects seamlessly—from feasibility studies to commissioning and ongoing maintenance—ensuring faster deployment and reliable long-term performance. Our emphasis on ‘Make in India’ also ensures cost competitiveness without compromising on global quality standards.
Que: What role does automation and digitalisation play in optimising hydrogen production at the company’s projects?
Ans: Automation and digitalisation are central to our strategy for optimising hydrogen production. Our hydrogen plants are equipped with advanced sensors, IoT-enabled monitoring systems, and AI-driven predictive maintenance tools. These technologies allow real-time performance tracking, remote troubleshooting, and proactive optimisation of operational parameters. By embracing digital twin technology, we can simulate plant performance under different scenarios, enabling pre-emptive adjustments and reducing downtime. This digital-first approach ensures our hydrogen solutions deliver maximum efficiency, safety, and reliability while significantly reducing operational costs.
Que: What are your thoughts on the potential of hydrogen blending in India’s existing gas pipeline infrastructure?
Ans: Hydrogen blending into existing natural gas pipelines represents a highly practical and cost-effective interim solution for accelerating hydrogen adoption. By gradually increasing hydrogen’s share in the gas mix, India can reduce its carbon footprint without requiring immediate large-scale infrastructure overhaul. However, ensuring pipeline material compatibility, addressing safety concerns, and developing clear regulatory frameworks will be critical. We are actively working with industry partners and research institutions to develop blending solutions that are both safe and economically viable. This blending pathway can serve as a bridge while dedicated hydrogen infrastructure is developed in parallel.
Que: Airox Nigen is diversifying into solar module manufacturing under the AHAAN SOLAR brand. What was the motivation behind this expansion?
Ans: Our expansion into solar module manufacturing under AHAAN SOLAR stems from our commitment to India’s renewable energy transition. Green hydrogen and solar energy are complementary solutions — solar power can directly drive electrolysers for hydrogen production. By integrating solar manufacturing into our portfolio, we aim to offer end-to-end solutions that combine solar generation with green hydrogen production. This vertical integration enhances project economics and energy security for our clients. Additionally, with India emerging as a global solar manufacturing hub, AHAAN SOLAR is well-positioned to cater to both domestic and international demand for high-quality solar modules.
Que: What policy and regulatory support do you expect from the Indian government to accelerate hydrogen and solar manufacturing growth?
Ans: We look forward to consistent and long-term policy support from the government to accelerate both hydrogen and solar manufacturing. Key expectations include production-linked incentives (PLI) for electrolyser and solar module manufacturing, faster approval processes for hydrogen projects, subsidies for green hydrogen production, and mandates for hydrogen blending across sectors. A clear carbon pricing mechanism and green certification standards would further enhance demand. For solar, stable import duty structures, supportive land policies for manufacturing units, and incentives for R&D would significantly boost domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Que: What are the company’s expansion plans for the next five years? Are there any new geographies or product lines you’re focusing on?
Ans: Over the next five years, Airox Nigen aims to establish itself as a leading integrated energy solutions provider, covering green hydrogen, solar modules, and advanced gas generation systems. We plan to expand our manufacturing footprint to cater to both domestic and export markets, particularly in South-East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. On the product front, we are actively investing in next-generation electrolysers, hydrogen storage solutions, and modular renewable energy systems that combine solar, hydrogen, and battery storage. Our goal is to provide end-to-end solutions for industries seeking to transition to net-zero operations.
Que: What innovations in hydrogen storage and transportation do you think will be game-changers in the coming years?
Ans: The future of hydrogen storage and transportation will revolve around breakthroughs in material science and process innovation. We see significant potential in solid-state hydrogen storage technologies, which offer higher energy density and improved safety compared to conventional compressed or liquid hydrogen storage. Additionally, innovations in pipeline coatings and materials that enable safe hydrogen transport over long distances will be crucial. On the mobility front, hydrogen carriers like ammonia and methanol are gaining attention for their ease of transport and conversion back to hydrogen at the point of use. At Airox Nigen, we are actively collaborating with technology partners to develop and deploy these next-generation solutions in our upcoming projects.
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