India plans to position itself as global green hydrogen-hub: PM
Prime Minister Modi announced India’s ambition to become a global hub for green hydrogen (GH2), leveraging its early achievement of meeting Paris climate goals. The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in 2023, aims for five million tonnes of GH2 production by 2030, attracting significant investments, reducing CO2 emissions, and creating jobs while decarbonizing heavy industries and long-haul transport.
NEW DELHI: PM on Wednesday announced his plan to make India a global hub for green hydrogen (GH2), building upon the country’s achievement of becoming the first among G20 economies to meet green energy commitment made at 2021 Paris UN climate change conference (CO) nine years ahead of the 2030 target.
“We are not resting on these achievements and the nation remains focused on strengthening existing solutions while also looking at new and innovative areas.
This is where green hydrogen comes into the picture… We aim to position India as a global hub for production, utilisation, and export of green hydrogen. National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) launched in 2023 is a critical step toward realising this ambition. It will drive innovation, build infrastructure, stimulate industry growth, and attract investment in the sector,” he said in his inaugural speech delivered virtually at the 2nd International Green Hydrogen Conference.
Pointing out India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity “increased 300% and solar energy capacity received a boost of 3,000%” in the past 10 years, said GH2 can help decarbonise heavy industries and longhaul transport. GH2 is produced through electrolysis using renewable power as opposed to extraction from natural gas, which is termed ‘grey’.
The rapid expansion in renewables capacity since 2014, when Modi first became PM, provides the foundation for NGHM with a target of achieving five million tonnes of
annual GH2 production capacity by 2030. Govt is offering a production-linked incentive of Rs 13,050 crore for GH2 production and Rs 4,440 crore for electrolyser manufacturing.
Renewable energy minister Pralhad Joshi said NGHM has the potential to attract Rs 8 lakh crore in investments, generate six lakh jobs and lead to savings of Rs 1 lakh crore by reducing natural gas and ammonia imports. Oil minister Hardeep Puri said NGHM will reduce 15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
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