Sri Vijaya Puram, June 26: In a sharp departure from conventional energy planning, the Andaman and Nicobar administration is evaluating a radical proposal to deploy a 10 MW pilot of Hylenr’s Infinity Grid, an advanced hydrogen-fueled nuclear fusion microgrid. The system, if approved, would be co-located with the under-construction 50 MW LNG power plant in Sri Vijaya Puram, forming a hybrid generation model aimed at reducing electricity costs, cutting emissions, and establishing the islands as a national proving ground for next-generation clean energy solutions.
The proposal was raised during the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting earlier this month, amid escalating concerns over persistent power outages, rising diesel reliance, and the near-complete stagnation of centrally sponsored renewable energy programmes. Several senior officials present at the meeting confirmed to The Wave Andaman, on condition of anonymity, that flagship schemes such as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM have failed to gain any traction in the Union Territory.
“Despite clear guidelines and funding support from the Centre, the rollout here has been abysmal. In practical terms, there is almost no implementation,” said a senior official in the Renewable Energy-Electricity Department.
Launched in early 2024, the PM Surya Ghar initiative was designed to encourage rooftop solar adoption among households, reducing dependency on fossil fuel-generated electricity. PM-KUSUM, intended to subsidise standalone solar-powered irrigation systems for farmers, also remains largely inactive in the islands. Officials attribute the failure to logistical hurdles, lack of execution capacity on the ground, and bureaucratic gridlock.
In the meantime, the territory’s power system continues to depend heavily on imported diesel. While an LNG-based plant being developed with NTPC is expected to come online within two to three years, the projected cost of electricity from this plant, between ₹11 and ₹13 per unit, has raised alarms about its long-term viability.
That cost burden has led officials and technical advisors to explore alternative models, and Hylenr’s Infinity Grid is now emerging as a serious contender. Unlike traditional nuclear power, which relies on splitting uranium atoms (fission), the Infinity Grid is based on nuclear fusion, the same process that powers the sun. Fusion involves merging light atomic nuclei, typically isotopes of hydrogen, to produce energy without emitting greenhouse gases or creating long-lived radioactive waste.
Hylenr’s system uses a proprietary fuel configuration involving deuterium and boron, enclosed within a magnetically confined plasma chamber. The reaction is maintained at high temperatures, but unlike fission, there is no risk of meltdown or radiation leak. The microgrid setup is modular, capable of delivering base-load power 24/7, and requires minimal maintenance over a lifespan of up to ten years. Real-time diagnostics are enabled through IoT-based sensors, allowing predictive monitoring and high system efficiency.
According to Hylenr, the Infinity Grid can generate power at ₹1 per unit, a fraction of the cost of existing diesel or LNG-based systems currently used in the islands.
The proposed hybrid model would see 40 MW of generation from the LNG plant supplemented by 10 MW from the Infinity Grid, improving energy cost-efficiency and stabilising grid reliability. Officials familiar with the plan say the technology is being pitched as not just a cost-saving measure, but also a strategic tool for energy sovereignty in remote and geopolitically significant regions.
“The geography of these islands, scattered, isolated, and ecologically sensitive, makes traditional grid expansion impossible and diesel generation untenable,” said a district-level planner. “If this fusion pilot works, it could become a blueprint for energy deployment in other difficult terrains like Ladakh, Lakshadweep, or the Northeast.”
For the financial year 2025–26, the Ministry of Home Affairs has earmarked ₹708.98 crore for the power sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, much of which continues to be absorbed by fuel imports and associated logistics. Several officials noted that even this substantial allocation is inadequate to meet growing energy demand, especially as tourism booms and per capita consumption rises.
While the fusion pilot remains under evaluation and will require multiple clearances from central agencies, experts say it reflects a fundamental shift in how the islands think about their energy future.
“We are no longer debating whether fusion is possible. We are asking if the islands can afford not to try it,” said one energy advisor close to the discussions. “Diesel is the past. Solar has stalled. This may be our last, best chance to leapfrog to something smarter.”
For the islands caught between a fossil-fuel-driven grid and a stalled green transition, the future may be about lighting homes and leading a national energy shift.
