NEW DELHI: India is looking to not only become a consumer but an innovation, manufacturing destination for green hydrogen technologies, and create high-value jobs on the back of dedicated programmes to facilitate the burgeoning sector, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik said on Monday.
“Through the National Green Hydrogen Mission launched by the Prime Minister, we are laying the foundation for India to emerge not just as a consumer but as a global hub of innovation, manufacturing and deployment in hydrogen technologies,” Naik said at an industry conference.
“It will help us to reduce the import dependence, create high-value jobs and establish India as a key exporter in the emerging global hydrogen economy.”
By 2030, the green hydrogen production capacity is expected to leverage more than ₹8 lakh crore in total investments in the green hydrogen industry with a potential to create estimated 6 lakh jobs by 2030.
At a time when countries are designing cross-border carbon regulations, India’s leadership in green hydrogen would ensure industries to remain competitive and future-ready, Naik noted.
Further, he said that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has been steering efforts with conviction and supported more than 200 research and development (R&D) projects in the renewable energy, fuel cells, hydrogen and storage technologies.
Aiming for Net Zero
In January 2023, the Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore, and aims to make India a global hub for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives, by targeting production of 5 MMT per annum of Green Hydrogen by 2030.The mission also aims to facilitate Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) through clean energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports and enabling India to attain market leadership in Green Hydrogen.
“India has embarked on the ambitious journey to achieve the Net Zero emission target by 2070 and position itself as a global leader in clean energy. At the heart of this journey lies green hydrogen, for a more secure future,” Naik added.
Further, the minister said that testing facilities and incubation programmes have been created so that Indian researchers and innovators would have the ecosystem to translate ideas into breakthrough solutions.
Naik also said that the “research cannot remain confined” to academic silos, and must move seamlessly to pilots, prototypes and commercial development.
“The journey from research to commercialisation requires patience, perseverance and precision. But with the ecosystem, we are building and curating state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure, a supportive policy framework, international partnerships and the extraordinary talent of our scientists and entrepreneurs. I am confident that India will not only meet these challenges but transform them into opportunities.”
The Green Hydrogen Mission is expected to reduce a cumulative ₹1 lakh crore worth of fossil fuel imports by 2030.
