Green Hydrogen

Key Highlights:

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was approved in January 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore.
• It targets an annual green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) by 2030.
• India notified its Green Hydrogen Standard in August 2023, defining green hydrogen as having emissions not exceeding 2 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kg of hydrogen.
• The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme provides incentives for domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production.
• India's first indigenous hydrogen-powered train was inaugurated on July 17, 2026, on the Jind–Sonipat section.

Detailed Insights:

• Green hydrogen, produced by splitting water using renewable electricity, is crucial for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like fertilizer, refining, steel, and heavy transport.
• Its adoption enhances India's energy security, reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, and supports the net-zero emissions goal by 2070.
• The NGHM aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen and its derivatives, fostering domestic manufacturing and assured demand.
• Pilot projects are being implemented in steel, mobility, and shipping to identify technological gaps and test supply chains for future commercial deployment.
• Green Hydrogen Hubs and Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVIC) are promoted to integrate production, consumption, and infrastructure, improving project viability.
• Key policy measures include a 25-year waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for eligible plants and exemption from prior Environmental Clearance.
• India has also notified standards for green ammonia and green methanol, and launched a Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India.
• The Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP) drives R&D, while skilling initiatives aim to create over 6 lakh jobs by 2030.
• International cooperation and state-level policies are being pursued to accelerate the green hydrogen ecosystem.

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 a compound, such as water, into its constituent elements (hydrogen and oxygen).
• Electrolyser: An apparatus containing electrodes and an electrolyte, used to perform electrolysis and produce hydrogen from water.