India’s unwavering commitment to ambitious climate goals has been widely acknowledged by the global community. With the fastest-growing renewable energy capacity in the world, India has emerged as a highly attractive destination for renewable energy investments. As India aims to become energy independent by 2047 and achieve net zero emissions by 2070, the critical role of green hydrogen in our efforts has been recognized. Given our abundant renewable energy resources, India is well-positioned to produce green hydrogen for the world. To this end, the National Green Hydrogen Mission has been launched to establish a comprehensive action plan for building a green hydrogen ecosystem and addressing the opportunities and challenges in this emerging sector.

As India’s economic story develops, its demand for energy and resources is expected to increase. In the last two decades, energy demand has doubled and is anticipated to increase by at least 25% by 2030. Currently, almost 40% of India’s primary energy needs, amounting to over USD ($) 90 billion annually, are imported. Industries like transportation and manufacturing are heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels. To address this challenge, there is a need for a technology shift that enables an increased proportion of renewable sources in the energy mix and gradually lessens the reliance on fossil fuels.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission of India

The National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen in India and establish the country as a global leader in the production and use of green hydrogen. The mission has set a target of producing one kilogram of green hydrogen at a cost of less than Rs 100 ($1.35) by 2023 and reducing the cost to less than Rs 60 ($0.81) by 2025.

The mission also aims to establish a network of green hydrogen production plants, storage facilities, and distribution infrastructure across the country. This infrastructure will support the deployment of fuel cell vehicles and other hydrogen-based applications, and create new job opportunities in the clean energy sector.

The mission will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, which will run from 2021 to 2024, will focus on building the necessary infrastructure and developing pilot projects in key sectors such as transportation and power generation. The second phase, which will run from 2024 to 2030, will focus on scaling up the production and deployment of green hydrogen across the country.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission Objectives

The National Green Hydrogen Mission has set out an overarching objective of making India the global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. This goal will help India achieve self-reliance through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global clean energy transition. The mission will lead to significant decarbonization of the economy, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, and position India as a technology and market leader in green hydrogen.

To achieve these objectives, the mission aims to build capabilities to produce at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen per annum by 2030, with the potential to reach 10 MMT per annum with the growth of export markets. The mission will support the replacement of fossil fuels and fossil fuel-based feedstocks with renewable fuels and feedstocks based on green hydrogen. 

This will include replacing hydrogen produced from fossil fuel sources with green hydrogen in ammonia production and petroleum refining, blending green hydrogen in city gas distribution systems, producing steel with green hydrogen, and using green hydrogen-derived synthetic fuels (including green ammonia, green methanol, etc.) to replace fossil fuels in various sectors, including mobility, shipping, and aviation.

Benefits of the National Green Hydrogen Mission

The National Green Hydrogen Mission has the potential to deliver significant benefits to India and the global community. These include:

1. Reduced carbon emissions: The use of green hydrogen as an alternative fuel source will help to reduce India’s carbon emissions, which are among the highest in the world.
2. Increased energy security: India is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, which makes it vulnerable to supply disruptions and price volatility. The production of green hydrogen from domestic renewable sources will enhance the country’s energy security and reduce its reliance on imported energy.
3. Job creation: The establishment of green hydrogen production facilities and related infrastructure will create new job opportunities in the clean energy sector.
4. Technological innovation: The development of green hydrogen technologies will drive technological innovation and help India to become a global leader in the clean energy sector.

Integrated National Green Hydrogen Mission Strategy

The National Green Hydrogen Mission of India 2023 has a comprehensive integrated mission strategy to establish a green hydrogen ecosystem and accelerate the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The following are the key elements of the mission strategy:

1. Build production capabilities: The mission aims to produce at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030, with the potential to reach 10 MMT per annum. This will require significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure, particularly in solar and wind power, which will provide the energy required for the electrolysis of water to produce green hydrogen.
2. Develop demand for green hydrogen: The mission will focus on building demand for green hydrogen by encouraging the use of green hydrogen in various sectors such as steel production, transportation, and power generation. The mission will also promote the use of green hydrogen-derived synthetic fuels such as green ammonia and green methanol to replace fossil fuels in various sectors including mobility, shipping, and aviation.
3. Establish regulatory framework: The mission aims to establish a regulatory framework that will facilitate the adoption of green hydrogen and support the development of a green hydrogen ecosystem in the country. This will include the development of standards, policies, and regulations related to the production, transportation, storage, and use of green hydrogen.
4. Develop supply chain infrastructure: The mission will focus on developing the necessary infrastructure for the production, storage, and transportation of green hydrogen. This will include the development of electrolyzers, hydrogen storage facilities, and hydrogen pipelines to transport green hydrogen to different parts of the country.
5. Capacity building and R&D: The mission will focus on capacity building and research and development activities to support the growth of the green hydrogen sector in the country. This will include the development of a skilled workforce, training programs, and research activities to support the development of new technologies and processes for green hydrogen production and use.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission of India is a bold and ambitious initiative that has the potential to transform India’s energy landscape and contribute to the global transition to a low-carbon economy. The successful implementation of the mission will require strong government support, private-sector investment, and collaboration between various stakeholders. However, if successful, it will deliver significant economic, environmental, and social benefits to India and the world.

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We At GH2 Solar

GH2 Solar is a technology-oriented company that has vast experience in executing oil and refineries solar rooftop & large-scale utility projects across India. Being already experienced in the renewable sector, now we are working on the development of “Green Hydrogen” & HAAS (Hydrogen as a Service). If you are planning to adopt Green Hydrogen, you can connect with GH2 Solar to get all information about the same.

For more information, please give us a call at 1800-102-8685

Source: MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY