The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy unveiled the R&D roadmap for a Rs 400 crore National Green Hydrogen Mission, on the eve of World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, celebrated on 8 October.
The event was organised by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, in association with Solar Energy Corporation of India, brough together experts from the industry, academia and the government.
The roadmap seeks to provide guidance for developing a vibrant research and development ecosystem which can help commercialise Green Hydrogen and contribute to India’s ambitious climate and energy goals. It focuses on developing new materials, technologies, and infrastructure to improve the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of green hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. The R&D program will also prioritise safety and address technical barriers and challenges in developing a hydrogen economy.
In a video message, the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh said, "Hydrogen is the most abundant element and it has the potential to revolutionize our energy landscape, mitigate climate change, and power our economies with clean energy. On this World Hydrogen Day, let us reiterate our commitment to research, development and deployment of hydrogen solutions."
Delivering the keynote speech, renowned scientist and Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood said, "The R&D budget announced in this Mission is Rs. 400 crores in just 2 – 3 years. If we are able to demonstrate that this R&D can make a difference at the ground level, then I am confident that more will come. Our first priority should be mission-mode projects which will yield results in 2 – 3 years; then, we can address grand challenges which will be rather long-term and also blue sky projects which will take disruptive pathways."
Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Shri Abhay Bakre shared the details of the Draft Accreditation Procedure and Eligibility for Accredited Carbon Verification Agencies, which he said is being released for public and stakeholder comments. In his presentation on 'Carbon Credit Trading Scheme,' which has been announced by the government to address the issue of GHG emissions, the
DG BEE underlined the necessary framework and the roles of diverse stakeholders for the development and functioning of the Indian Carbon Market.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ajay Yadav, informed that all schemes under the National Green Hydrogen Mission have been finalized and that the scheme for hydrogen hubs is ready to be rolled out. He said that pilot projects are being undertaken in steel, shipping and road transport sectors and that implementation of National Green Hydrogen Mission is steering the nation towards a hydrogen-powered future that promises to revolutionise the energy landscape.