The recently approved National Green Hydrogen Plan underscores India’s commitment to renewable energy.
Posted on – 12:18 AM, Fri – 13 January 23
The recently approved National Green Hydrogen Plan underscores India’s commitment to renewable energy.
Hyderabad: Hydrogen, an abundant element in nature, is the cleanest fuel and provides an ideal solution for mankind to get rid of the climate crisis. However, it is combined with other elements in the form of water, hydrocarbons, and other organic matter. It needs to be extracted. Since the current commercial process of extracting hydrogen pollutes the atmosphere, “green hydrogen” holds promise. Hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using electricity from solar or wind projects is designated as green hydrogen and considered the cleanest fuel because its production leaves no carbon footprint. India is well positioned to develop a competitive advantage in green hydrogen energy globally. The Union Cabinet recently approved the National Green Hydrogen Plan with an initial expenditure of Rs 19,744 crore, a welcome step that underscores India’s commitment to renewable energy. By 2030, the mission aims to achieve 5 MMT (million tons) of green hydrogen production capacity per year, create more than 600,000 jobs, cumulatively reduce fossil fuel imports, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 MMT per year. The use of green hydrogen in India is still in its early stages, and there are several challenges that need to be addressed to scale up its production and use. These include high production costs, lack of infrastructure for distributing and storing hydrogen, and the need to develop technologies suitable for its use in different applications.
Despite these challenges, the potential of green hydrogen is enormous. India is rich in renewable resources and has unique advantages in green hydrogen production. It is one of the largest renewable energy markets in the world. Hydrogen can play a key role in the country’s energy mix, helping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable energy system. With the right policies and investments, green hydrogen can be an important part of India’s energy future. It is also critical for the country to achieve its NDC targets and ensure regional and national energy security, access and availability. Under the Paris Climate Agreement, India committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its economy by 33-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Green hydrogen can drive India’s transition to clean energy and combat climate change. Expected long-term benefits of the mandate will include the creation of export opportunities for green hydrogen and its derivatives; decarbonisation of industry, transport and the energy sector. Creating jobs for a young population and developing cutting-edge technologies will bring further advantages. Green hydrogen can serve as an energy storage option, which is essential to meet the intermittency of future renewable energy. India has a clear advantage in low-cost renewable energy generation, making green hydrogen the most competitive form of hydrogen in the long run.
