The Global Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Summit 2025, held on March 12–13, 2025 in Kochi, Kerala, brought together policymakers, energy experts, industry leaders, investors, and researchers to discuss the future of clean energy and sustainable development. During the summit, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, highlighted India’s progress in renewable energy deployment and the growing role of green hydrogen in the country’s long-term energy transition strategy.

Addressing the gathering, Bhalla emphasised that India’s rapidly growing economy is driving a significant increase in energy demand, making the expansion of renewable energy sources and clean technologies a strategic necessity. He noted that reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels remains critical for strengthening energy security and supporting sustainable economic growth.

India’s Renewable Energy Expansion Gains Momentum

Speaking about India’s clean energy journey, Bhalla highlighted the remarkable growth in non-fossil fuel power generation over the past decade. The country has substantially expanded its renewable energy capacity through large-scale solar, wind, and other clean energy projects, reinforcing its commitment to achieving ambitious climate and sustainability goals.

He noted that India’s target of expanding non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 is supported by a strong pipeline of renewable energy projects currently under development and implementation. Continued investments in generation, transmission, and grid infrastructure will be essential for maintaining this growth trajectory.

The summit discussions also focused on challenges associated with scaling renewable energy deployment, including grid integration, transmission capacity, land availability, and project execution timelines. Participants explored innovative approaches that could help address these barriers and accelerate clean energy adoption.

Green Hydrogen Emerging as a Strategic Priority

Bhalla highlighted green hydrogen as a key pillar of India’s future energy strategy, particularly for sectors where direct electrification may not be feasible. Industries such as refining, fertilisers, steel manufacturing, shipping, and heavy transportation are expected to benefit significantly from hydrogen-based decarbonisation pathways.

He discussed the progress being made under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to support domestic hydrogen production, encourage technology innovation, and build a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem.

According to him, policy support, financial incentives, and industry participation are helping create momentum for green hydrogen projects across the country.

Building the Foundation for a Hydrogen Economy

The former MNRE Secretary also highlighted efforts to strengthen the enabling ecosystem around hydrogen technologies, including the development of standards, testing facilities, manufacturing capabilities, and skill development programmes.

He noted that falling technology costs and increasing industry interest are creating new opportunities for scaling hydrogen production and expanding its commercial applications.

Participants at the summit discussed the importance of creating integrated value chains covering hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and end-use applications to support long-term market growth.

Investment and Collaboration Remain Critical

A major focus of the discussions was the need for sustained investments to support India’s energy transition. Bhalla emphasised that large-scale deployment of renewable energy and hydrogen technologies will require significant capital investment, innovative financing models, and collaborative partnerships across sectors.

Industry leaders, policymakers, and investors explored opportunities to mobilise funding for renewable energy infrastructure, hydrogen projects, transmission networks, and emerging clean energy technologies.

Advancing India’s Clean Energy Ambitions

The summit served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among government representatives, technology providers, researchers, investors, and industry stakeholders working to accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon economy.

Experts agreed that innovation, policy support, infrastructure development, and international cooperation will be critical in achieving India’s long-term energy and climate objectives.

The event reinforced the growing importance of renewable energy and green hydrogen in shaping India’s sustainable future and highlighted the country’s commitment to becoming a global leader in clean energy transformation.

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