Tata Steel Claims to be India's first to Develop Hydrogen Transportation Pipes

Tata Steel claims to be the first Indian company to develop pipes designed to transport hydrogen, a significant step forward in India's clean energy efforts.  

The company's hydrogen-compliant API X65 pipes were manufactured at Tata Steel's Khopoli plant using steel from its Kalinganagar facility. In a press release, the company stated that these pipes meet all critical requirements for hydrogen transportation.  

Developed completely in-house

Tata Steel handled the entire process, from designing and manufacturing the hot-rolled steel to producing the pipes, demonstrating its ability to build critical energy infrastructure.  

In 2024, Tata Steel became the first Indian steel company to produce hot-rolled steel for gaseous hydrogen transportation, further strengthening its position in the 

sector. 

The company stated that RINA-CSM S.p.A. in Italy, a recognized organization for testing and certification related to hydrogen, was the site of the hydrogen qualification tests.  

Endorsing the National Hydrogen Mission of India

Under high pressure (100 bar), the recently developed pipes are capable of transporting 100% pure gaseous hydrogen. 

Vice-President-Marketing & Sales (Flat Products) Prabhat Kumar of Tata Steel commented on the accomplishment, saying, "Tata Steel has always been at the forefront of developing advanced steel grades. These ERW pipes' successful testing demonstrates our capacity to assist the energy industry. As a vital component of India's transition to clean energy, we are honored to support the National Hydrogen Mission."

He went on to say that Tata Steel is prepared to supply the specialized steel pipes needed for hydrogen transportation, both domestically and internationally. 

In order to meet export demands, India's National Hydrogen Mission hopes to produce at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030, with the possibility of reaching 10 MMT annually. This would necessitate large investments in transportation and power infrastructure.

It is anticipated that the need for hydrogen-compliant steel will increase between 2026 and 2027, reaching a total of 350,000 tonnes of steel over the following five to seven years. Although there are several ways to transport hydrogen, steel pipelines are thought to be among the most economical options for widespread distribution.