Green Hydrogen

Key Highlights:

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was approved in January 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore.
• It targets at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
• India notified its Green Hydrogen Standard in August 2023, setting an emissions ceiling of 2 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg of hydrogen.
• The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme, a key NGHM component, offers incentives for electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production.
• The mission aims to mobilize over ₹8 lakh crore in investments, generate more than 6 lakh jobs, and avert 50 MMT of CO₂ emissions annually by 2030.

Detailed Insights:

• Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water using renewable electricity, offering a clean energy carrier with minimal emissions.
• It is crucial for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like fertilizer, petroleum refining, iron and steel, heavy-duty transport, and shipping.
• India's abundant renewable energy resources support domestic production, enhancing energy security and contributing to net-zero emissions by 2070.
• The NGHM employs a "whole-of-government" approach, coordinating various ministries for policy implementation and adoption across sectors.
• Key policy measures include waiving Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for 25 years for eligible green hydrogen and ammonia plants.
• Pilot projects are supported in steel, mobility (e.g., India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train on Jind–Sonipat section), and shipping to test technologies and identify gaps.
• Green Hydrogen Hubs and Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVIC) are promoted to facilitate production, consumption, and infrastructure development.
• India has launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India and notified standards for green ammonia and green methanol.
• The Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP) fosters R&D, while skill development initiatives aim to create a skilled workforce.
• International cooperation is actively pursued through MoUs and task forces with various countries to advance technology and market development.
• Six states have notified dedicated green hydrogen policies, with others integrating hydrogen into existing industrial and renewable energy frameworks.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Green Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by splitting water using renewable electricity, resulting in minimal carbon emissions.
• Electrolysis: A process that uses electricity to split water (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂).
• Fuel Cell: An electrochemical device that converts chemical energy from a fuel (like hydrogen) into electricity, producing only water and heat as by-products.
• Hard-to-abate sectors: Industries where reducing greenhouse gas emissions is technically or economically challenging, often due to high heat requirements or specific chemical processes.