Interview Times 
FEATURE: In the rapidly evolving field of green hydrogen and sustainable energy, Santosh Pradhan is emerging as a visionary leader poised to reshape the industry. With over 20 years of expertise in ammonia storage and handling, he currently serves as a Director at SNGH2 Co. and a Senior Leader at IFFCO, where his contributions have significantly impacted ammonia projects. However, Santosh’s vision reaches beyond ammonia. At the helm of SNGH2 Co., a company he co-founded in 2021, he is leading the charge in green hydrogen system development. Through SNGH2, Santosh is on a mission to champion sustainable energy solutions and pave the way toward a greener, more sustainable future.
Santosh’s journey toward creating a green energy future is a testament to his determination and passion. Born in Kendrapada, Odisha, Santosh spent his early years in a small village near Chandikhol, where his father worked as a teacher. This humble upbringing instilled in him the values of hard work and resilience. His academic pursuits took him to Rajdhani College in Bhubaneswar and then to Barpada School of Engineering & Technology, Bhadrak, where he completed his diploma in mechanical engineering in 1999. Driven by his ambition to continue his education, Santosh later pursued a B.Tech. from Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, Dhenkanal, which he completed in 2003.
His career began at Oswal Fertilizer and Chemical Limited, which was later acquired by IFFCO. It was within the walls of IFFCO that Santosh began to shape his future. Starting in the mechanical and maintenance departments, he soon ventured into handling projects and quality control, taking on increasingly responsible roles in the fertilizer plant. Eventually, his journey in the industry led him to work with ammonia, a major raw material in the fertilizer sector. This deep dive into ammonia’s complexities piqued his interest in its storage and handling, which he would later come to specialize in.
While Santosh’s work in ammonia was fulfilling, his growing concerns about environmental degradation and carbon footprints sparked a larger vision. Over the years, as Santosh witnessed the tremendous carbon emissions from industries, he realized the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions to counter global warming. This realization led him to a bold decision: to step away from traditional industrial practices and find ways to contribute to the growing green energy movement.
In 2021, Santosh and his college friend, Suprasanna Nayak—who had significant experience in the oil and gas industry, including his work for the Ministry of Energy in Saudi Arabia—teamed up to create SNGH2 Co. Their vision for SNGH2 was to revolutionize the hydrogen sector and bring environmentally friendly, sustainable energy solutions to the world. With their combined expertise, they aimed to contribute to the growing field of green hydrogen and make energy systems more efficient while mitigating climate change.
SNGH2 Co. provides cutting-edge green hydrogen solutions focused on producing clean, efficient, and cost-effective hydrogen systems. Through the latest technology in electrolysis, hydrogen storage, and power system integration, SNGH2 helps meet the world’s growing energy demands while tackling the global energy crisis. Santosh believes that green hydrogen is the answer to a sustainable future, and through his company, he hopes to drive change, turning this vision into a reality. The company’s dedication to its mission is evident as it works with leading Indian research organizations and performs feasibility studies, technological validation, and project development to create impactful solutions for clients across industries.
What drives Santosh is his innate belief that energy solutions must be green in order to sustain life on Earth. He has never shied away from the idea of investing time and resources in emerging green technologies. During his tenure at IFFCO’s sulphuric acid plant, Santosh played a pivotal role in implementing a waste heat recovery system (HRS) boiler. This innovation transformed waste heat into usable energy, significantly reducing the plant’s carbon footprint. The project’s success earned IFFCO a prestigious Carbon Credit Award from the Government of India—a milestone that deeply inspired Santosh to dedicate his career to advancing cleaner and greener energy solutions. These formative experiences laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to sustainable innovation.
Although he and Suprasanna started SNGH2 Co. with the aim of transforming the green hydrogen industry, Santosh is grounded in reality. Despite facing challenges in securing projects in Odisha, SNGH2 Co. found an opening in international markets such as Saudi Arabia, where the green hydrogen push is robust and growing. As the world shifts toward renewable energy sources, countries like Saudi Arabia have begun investing heavily in hydrogen technologies. This presented Santosh with an opportunity to expand SNGH2’s influence, yet his focus on bringing green energy to India has never wavered. He believes that with support from Indian industries, his company’s cutting-edge technologies and expertise will allow them to eventually lead the green hydrogen movement back home.
Looking forward, Santosh remains hopeful and optimistic about Odisha’s role in the green energy revolution. The state has already begun laying the groundwork for green projects, with companies like Achme, IOCL, and L&T partnering on ventures aimed at reducing carbon footprints. Santosh sees immense potential in Odisha, which he believes is poised to become a leader in green energy, particularly with the strong backing from both the government and the private sector. Santosh is confident that within the next two years, there will be a boom in green energy projects, and he is prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
As much as Santosh has focused on advancing green technologies, he is equally passionate about empowering the next generation of energy leaders. Through SNGH2, Santosh is dedicated to providing education and training to Odisha’s youth, encouraging them to develop technical expertise in the green energy sector. His message to the youth of Odisha is one of empowerment: “This is the time for young thinkers and entrepreneurs to rise and focus on their goals. There’s no better time than now to work toward something meaningful and contribute to making Odisha a greener and better place.”
Santosh’s ultimate goal is for SNGH2 to play a pivotal role in transforming Odisha into a model for sustainable development in India. He envisions SNGH2’s growth being driven not only by technology but by the knowledge and skills of young people who will carry the mantle of the green energy movement into the future. And though Santosh’s journey is far from over, his dedication to greener energy solutions and a sustainable future is already creating a powerful legacy that will undoubtedly shape the years to come.
As Santosh Pradhan continues to forge ahead on this ambitious path, one thing is certain: his drive, determination, and unwavering focus on green energy will leave a lasting imprint on the world’s environmental landscape.
