India is among the top three countries that emit greenhouse gases. We are responsible for 2.46 billion metric tonnes of carbon or 6.8% of the total global emissions. Looking at all the climate change risks the country is more conscious of going for green energy than any other country in the world.
The Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the special emphasis is being given to green hydrogen, biofuel blending, and exploration and production of biofuel from alternative sources. Noting that the national green hydrogen policy outlined the “preparatory measures", an official said: “What we will have been a full-fledged national green hydrogen mission; hopefully in two months."
The mission is also expected to list the sectors that will have to start using green hydrogen voluntarily and a roadmap for sectors such as fertilizer and petrochemicals to use the green fuel mandatorily. “Green hydrogen/green ammonia is defined as hydrogen /ammonia produced by way of electrolysis of water using renewable energy; including renewable energy which has been banked and the hydrogen/ammonia produced from biomass," the power ministry said in a notification at the launch of the policy in February.
The Centre revealed that the green hydrogen policy, promising cheaper renewable power, fee waiver for inter-state power transmission for 25 years for projects commissioned before June 2025, land in renewable energy parks, and mega manufacturing zones to help local industries wean themselves off fossil fuels.
The policy, aimed at promoting green hydrogen and green ammonia, also spoke of facilitating the ‘banking’ or storage of green power, where a green power producer can save surplus renewable power with an electricity distribution company for up to 30 days. It also envisages building bunkers near ports to store green ammonia for exports. India has set a target to produce 5 million tonnes (mt) of green hydrogen by 2030. Over the next decade, the government plans to add 175 GW of green hydrogen-based energy.
Rohit Ahuja, head of research and outreach, ICRA said that this is an ambitious plan but possible if green hydrogen costs lower down, which would be possible with enabling and mass production of electrolysers.
