Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, a subsidiary of Nel ASA, has signed a technology licensing agreement with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).
This deal grants RIL an exclusive license to Nel’s alkaline electrolyser technology in India and allows RIL to manufacture these electrolysers globally for its own use.
While the agreement is touted as a significant milestone for Nel, it’s important to critically examine its implications. RIL, a Fortune 500 company and India’s largest private sector corporation, is known for its large-scale projects and substantial investments in technology. This partnership aligns with RIL’s vision to develop a fully integrated new energy value chain, which includes green hydrogen as a core component.
However, the success of this venture hinges on several factors. Although Nel’s technology platform is well-regarded, the actual implementation and scalability of manufacturing electrolysers in India will be a critical test. RIL’s past achievements in building global-scale businesses are noteworthy, but replicating this success in the hydrogen sector will require overcoming significant technological and infrastructural challenges.
The technology licensing agreement allows Reliance to leverage Nel’s alkaline electrolyser technology. This move could potentially accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen in India and beyond. Yet, the critical question remains: can Reliance effectively integrate and scale this technology to meet its ambitious goals?
Comparatively, global leaders in hydrogen technology, such as ITM Power and Plug Power, have already made substantial strides in commercializing electrolyser technology. For RIL and Nel, matching or exceeding these benchmarks will be essential to establishing a competitive edge.
The agreement includes provisions for collaborative research and development aimed at improving performance and reducing costs. While this could enhance the competitiveness of the alkaline technology platform, it also introduces potential risks. The success of R&D efforts is uncertain, and without significant breakthroughs, the partnership may struggle to achieve its ambitious cost and performance targets.
From an economic standpoint, Nel stands to gain a new revenue stream from the Indian market through this agreement. However, reliance on a single market could expose Nel to risks associated with market volatility and regulatory changes in India.
Strategically, the ability for Nel to procure equipment from Reliance for its own projects offers some synergy, but it remains to be seen how effectively this will be managed. The exclusion of certain technology platforms from the agreement also suggests that Nel is hedging its bets, maintaining some flexibility in its global strategy.
