New Delhi
India’s natural advantage in green hydrogen production, due to abundant solar energy and investments in the power grid, was highlighted by the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, at the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen. He noted that India’s solar capacity has grown significantly, from 2.6 GW in 2014 to 85.5 GW, supported by one of the largest synchronous grids in the world, capable of handling intermittent renewable energy.
Puri stated that India is set to lead global green energy demand with domestic growth across various sectors. Investments worth Rs 30 lakh crore are expected to help meet the 500 GW target by 2030. Additionally, multilateral development banks have pledged up to USD 27 billion for India’s green initiatives. India’s engineering talent is expected to enable a smooth transition to a greener economy, positioning the country as a key player in green hydrogen.
The government has implemented a Green Hydrogen Policy, aiming to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, supported by a National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore. Incentives include the waiver of inter-state transmission charges for projects before June 2025. Meeting these goals could reduce Rs 1 lakh crore worth of fossil fuel imports and generate Rs 8 lakh crore in investments, creating over 6 lakh jobs. Puri emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders to establish India as a global green hydrogen hub.
