India plans to scale up green hydrogen production, aims for global leadership: MNRE Secretary

New Delhi: India is setting its sights on becoming a major player in the global green hydrogen market by significantly increasing production, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla said at the World Hydrogen Summit 2024 in Rotterdam.

"With a strategic focus on scaling up production, India aims to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the international market for green hydrogen, thereby reinforcing its position as a key player in the global energy transition," Bhalla stated.

As part of its National Green Hydrogen Mission, India plans to reach an annual production capacity of 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. This initiative includes a wide range of activities such as pilot projects, research and development, and skill development programs aimed at enhancing innovation and collaboration across the hydrogen value chain.

Bhalla emphasized India's low renewable energy costs and sophisticated grid infrastructure as crucial factors in attracting investment and efficiently integrating renewable energy sources. He also highlighted the crucial role of India's engineering talent in the successful implementation of these ambitious projects.

Currently, approximately 43% of India's installed electricity capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources, with projections to increase to 50% by 2030.

On the progress being made towards The National Green Hydrogen Mission, Bhalla said, "The government has made substantial progress in this regard, having awarded tenders for incentives to support green hydrogen production of a total of 412,000 tonnes per annum.

"Additionally, tenders have been awarded for the establishment of electrolyser manufacturing capacity amounting to 1,500 MW per annum, further bolstering India's capacity to produce green hydrogen at scale," he said.