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BIRAC Opens Call for Pilot Projects Using Biomass and Innovative Routes to Produce Green Hydrogen

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has issued a call for proposals to support pilot-scale green hydrogen projects that use biomass-based and other innovative production pathways. Interested applicants must submit their proposals by January 27, 2026.

Under the initiative, BIRAC has earmarked Rs1 billion (around $11.09 million) as central financial assistance to support multiple pilot projects. Funding support will be capped at Rs250 million ($2.77 million) per project, with the provision to cover up to 100% of eligible equipment costs within this limit.

Funding Structure and Scope

A portion of the grant will be released at the time of project award and execution of the grant-in-aid agreement. The remaining funds will be disbursed in stages, linked to equipment procurement, commissioning milestones, and final project completion, following a mandatory six-month operational demonstration period.

The tender is primarily focused on capital expenditure, covering equipment procurement and retrofitting required for green hydrogen production and its downstream derivatives. However, it excludes operating and recurring expenses, such as manpower costs, consumables, renewable power sourcing, land and water procurement, and civil construction activities.

Technologies and Use Cases

BIRAC is seeking proposals that demonstrate novel and scalable green hydrogen production models, including but not limited to:

• Biomass-based hydrogen pathways
• Floating solar-linked green hydrogen systems
• Green hydrogen derived from wastewater streams

The program also aims to validate decentralised applications of green hydrogen and its derivatives, including their use in cooking, space heating, off-grid power generation, and off-road mobility.

Another key objective is to assess the feasibility of integrating green hydrogen into residential and commercial appliances, potentially in conjunction with city gas networks and community-level energy systems, while ensuring safe and secure deployment in new end-use segments.

Project Timeline and Eligibility

Proposed technologies must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or 6, indicating that they have already been validated at the laboratory scale and are ready for pilot implementation.

Selected projects must commission their pilot facilities within 12 months of signing the grant agreement, followed by a six-month demonstration phase, with the overall project duration capped at 18 months. While provisions for extensions are available, delays beyond the permitted period may attract penalties, including a 1% annual penalty on the released grant amount.

Successful applicants will be required to furnish a bank guarantee equivalent to 20% of the sanctioned grant at the time of agreement execution.

Compliance and Participation

In addition to project execution, selected agencies must meet several compliance requirements. These include arranging suitable land for pilot deployment, submitting periodic progress and milestone reports, providing audited utilisation certificates and expenditure statements, and facilitating inspections by designated committees.

The tender also mandates the opening of a zero-balance subsidiary account, in line with Department of Expenditure guidelines aimed at preventing the parking of government funds.

Projects with identified offtakers will be given preference during the evaluation process.

Eligibility is open to Indian companies, which may apply independently or in partnership with other entities such as academic institutions, trusts, societies, NGOs, and startups. Startups are permitted to participate either as standalone applicants or as part of a consortium.