On the eve of World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, celebrated annually on October 8th, the Government of India took a significant step towards harnessing the potential of green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. In a half-day event held in New Delhi on October 7, 2023, organised by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy in collaboration with the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited, experts from various sectors converged to explore the boundless possibilities of hydrogen.
At the event, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy unveiled the R&D Roadmap for the National Green Hydrogen Mission, allocating a budget of Rs. 400 crores. This roadmap aims to foster a robust research and development ecosystem to drive the commercialization of Green Hydrogen and contribute to India’s ambitious climate and energy objectives. It focuses on enhancing materials, technologies, and infrastructure to boost the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of green hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. Additionally, safety measures and solutions to technical challenges in developing a hydrogen economy are prioritised.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh, emphasised the importance of hydrogen in mitigating climate change and propelling clean energy economies. He urged industries and communities to embrace hydrogen as a pivotal player in the energy transition.
Renowned scientist and Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, underlined the significance of green hydrogen in decarbonisation and highlighted the need for rapid domestic production capacity expansion for electrolyzers and standards for Type IV hydrogen cylinders.
New and Renewable Energy Secretary, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, asserted that India is poised to become a leader in the green hydrogen sector and emphasised the importance of producing green hydrogen cost-effectively while leading in technology and safety standards.
In addition to the R&D roadmap, the event marked the launch of the Green Hydrogen page on The National Single Window System (NSWS) of the Government of India, providing a streamlined process for industry approvals related to projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The CMD of the Solar Energy Corporation of India, R. P. Gupta, discussed the role of hydrogen in addressing energy storage costs and turning challenges into opportunities.
Director General of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Shri Abhay Bakre, highlighted the Draft Accreditation Procedure and Eligibility for Accredited Carbon Verification Agencies and the Indian Carbon Market’s framework.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Shri Ajay Yadav, revealed the finalisation of all schemes under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the readiness of the scheme for hydrogen hubs.
The event also featured discussions on green hydrogen development status, membrane-less electrolyzers, scientific advancements in artificial photosynthesis and negative carbon electrolysis, and challenges faced by green hydrogen developers.
A roundtable meeting, organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, aimed to enhance cooperation between the banking system and green hydrogen developers to facilitate access to low-cost finance and reduce the cost of green hydrogen production.
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