Tata Steel and UK Launch Joint Initiative for Green Hydrogen Projects

Tata Steel in collaboration with the UK, launches the ‘Tata Steel – Sprint to Zero’ 2023 Challenge to fund innovative projects focusing on green hydrogen and decarbonisation.

BENGALURU – In a bid to reduce the carbon footprint of the steel sector, Tata Steel has launched the ‘Tata Steel – Sprint to Zero’ 2023 Challenge. This initiative aims to fund innovative research and development projects that focus on low-carbon hydrogen solutions to pave the way for a sustainable future for the industrial sector. The announcement, made in conjunction with the UK-India Hydrogen Partnerships, comes as part of the commitment made by India and the UK to address climate change.

Two winning projects will receive funding of up to £80,000 (~Rs 83 lakh) from Tata Steel. The selected entities will also receive experiential engagement, including priority access to Tata Steel’s integrated steel plants. The proposed solutions are expected to address the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies to green the industrial sector, as well as solutions for hydrogen storage and purification.

The initiative aligns with the UK-India Hydrogen Partnerships, which builds on the UK-India Hydrogen Hub announced by the Prime Ministers of both countries in 2022. The partnership will address five major challenges – storage, transport, safety, production, and cost – faced by both nations.

The funding call is open for solutions from academia, start-ups, and industries across India and the UK. The projects must be co-led by an Indian or a UK organisation. The deadline for submission of proposals is August 31, 2023, with the winners to be announced by October 2023.