The three-day International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023) was inaugurated today at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by R. K. Singh, the Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy. The conference aims to facilitate discussions among global scientific, policy, academic, and industrial leaders on advancements and emerging technologies in the entire green hydrogen value chain.
Organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, and the Confederation of Indian Industry, the conference seeks to foster a systemic approach to meeting global decarbonization goals through the utilization of Green Hydrogen. With an emphasis on the evolving green hydrogen landscape and innovation-driven solutions, the conference aims to strengthen the sustainability ecosystem in the sector.
The primary objective of the conference is to explore the establishment of a Green Hydrogen ecosystem and discuss various aspects of hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and downstream applications. In addition, topics such as green financing, human resource upskilling, and startup initiatives in the field will also be addressed. The conference offers a platform for the exchange of international best practices, allowing participants to share and learn from each other's experiences.
During his address, Union Minister R K Singh highlighted the significant role of green hydrogen as the future fuel in India. He urged investors to consider India as an investment destination for manufacturing this clean energy source, expressing the government's willingness to assist in project development and create a conducive environment for the growth of green hydrogen.
Singh emphasized that India is the largest market in the world and encouraged partnerships in the development of electrolysers, mechanisms for green hydrogen transportation, and its utilization in manufacturing sectors such as green steel and cement.
Singh expressed his confidence that India, similar to its achievements in renewable energy, would emerge as a leader in green hydrogen. He revealed that several industries have already begun working towards establishing 3.5 million metric tonnes (MT) capacity for green hydrogen and are actively engaging with various states for land acquisition. The minister highlighted the rapid growth of India's green hydrogen industry as a testament to the country's progress and ambition.
The Indian government has already taken significant steps to promote the adoption of green hydrogen. In January 2023, the National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved, with an allocation of Rs 19,744 crore.
The mission aims to make India a global hub for manufacturing green hydrogen and sets a target of achieving a production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes per annum by 2030, along with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of approximately 125 gigawatts.
