According to guidelines released recently by the shipping ministry, India has set a target of 2035 for setting up green hydrogen fuel for bunkering and refueling facilities at major ports as part of its effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The shipping minister announced that three of India’s ports will initially have bunker facilities for green hydrogen and ammonia. India, one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, wants to reduce emissions to net zero by 2070.

Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told Reuters that by 2035, “our target is to cover all 12 major parts with a green hydrogen bunkering facility.”

The first ports in the effort will be in Tuticorin in the south, Kandla in the west, and Paradip in the east.

Sonowal continued, “Financing required to convert these ports into green ports is under discussion.

In addition to the 12 major ports, there are more than 200 ports along India’s 7,500 km (4,660 miles) coastline, which combined account for 65% of the country’s total value and 95% of its volume of trade.

Authorities want to replace diesel with electricity for at least half of the vehicles and equipment needed by major ports by 2030 and to increase that number to 90% by 2047.

Any step we take, according to Sonowal, “aims to meet the 2070 goal of being a net-zero carbon nation.”

India would need to source at least 40% of its electricity from renewable sources to reach the net-zero target.

To do this, ports must meet at least 60% of their electricity needs through renewable sources by 2030 and 90% by 2047, according to the new shipping criteria.

The rules state that all ports must reduce their energy use on each tonne of cargo by more than a fifth by 2030 compared to 2023.

The shipping ministry wants ports to build at least one LNG bunkering station by 2030 and electric vehicle charging stations near port areas by 2025 to increase the use of gas.

Source: Times Of India

For More Updates, Follow GH2 Solar on LinkedIn