The Global Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Summit 2025, held on March 12–13, 2025 in Kochi, Kerala, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, investors, and clean energy experts to discuss pathways for accelerating India’s energy transition. During the summit, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, highlighted the growing importance of renewable energy and green hydrogen in strengthening India’s energy security and supporting long-term economic growth.
Addressing the gathering, Bhalla noted that India’s rapidly expanding economy is driving unprecedented energy demand, making the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources a strategic necessity. He emphasised that reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels while expanding domestic renewable energy capacity remains a critical national priority.
Accelerating Renewable Energy Capacity
Speaking on India’s renewable energy journey, Bhalla highlighted the significant progress made in expanding non-fossil fuel power generation over the past decade. The country has witnessed substantial growth in solar and renewable energy installations, positioning itself among the world’s leading clean energy markets.
He noted that India’s ambitious renewable energy targets will require continued investments in generation capacity, transmission infrastructure, and grid modernisation. Scaling up renewable energy deployment is expected to play a vital role in meeting future energy requirements while supporting climate commitments.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of strengthening power infrastructure to accommodate the growing share of renewable energy in the national energy mix. Grid readiness, transmission capacity, and efficient utilisation of existing infrastructure were identified as key factors for accelerating project implementation.
Green Hydrogen Emerging as a Strategic Opportunity
Bhalla described green hydrogen as a critical component of India’s long-term decarbonisation strategy, particularly for sectors that are difficult to electrify directly. Industries such as refining, steel manufacturing, shipping, and heavy transportation are expected to benefit significantly from hydrogen-based solutions.
Referring to India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, he highlighted ongoing efforts to build a robust hydrogen ecosystem supported by policy initiatives, infrastructure development, and industry participation. The mission aims to encourage domestic production, foster innovation, and create opportunities for large-scale deployment of hydrogen technologies.
Building a Strong Regulatory and Innovation Ecosystem
The former MNRE Secretary emphasised the importance of creating supportive regulatory frameworks and industry standards to facilitate the growth of the hydrogen sector. Standardisation, safety protocols, technology development, and manufacturing capabilities will be crucial for ensuring sustainable growth and investor confidence.
He also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among governments, industry players, research institutions, and startups to accelerate innovation and commercialisation of emerging clean energy technologies.
Investment Critical to Energy Transformation
A key theme of the summit discussions was the significant investment required to support India’s clean energy ambitions. Bhalla noted that large-scale renewable energy and hydrogen projects will require substantial capital mobilisation, innovative financing mechanisms, and strategic partnerships.
According to him, investments in renewable power generation, hydrogen infrastructure, storage systems, and transmission networks will be essential to achieving long-term sustainability goals and ensuring energy resilience.
Kerala’s Role in Advancing Clean Energy Dialogue
The summit served as a platform for exchanging ideas and identifying practical solutions for scaling renewable energy and hydrogen adoption. Participants explored emerging technologies, policy interventions, financing models, and international collaboration opportunities aimed at accelerating the clean energy transition.
Industry leaders and policymakers agreed that coordinated action, sustained investments, and innovation-driven strategies will be crucial in building a low-carbon energy ecosystem capable of supporting India’s future growth.
The event reinforced Kerala’s growing role as a hub for renewable energy discussions and highlighted the state’s contribution to advancing India’s clean energy and sustainability agenda.
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