Distinguished dignitaries,

Scientists and innovators, Industry leaders, and my dear friends, I send my warm greetings to all of you. It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen.

Friends, the world is going through a crucial transformation. There is a growing realisation that climate change is not just a matter of the future. The impact of climate change is being felt here and now. The time for action is also here and now. Energy transition and sustainability have become central to global policy discourse.

Friends, India is committed towards creating a cleaner and greener planet. We were the first among G20 nations to fulfill our Paris commitments on green energy. These commitments were fulfilled 9 years ahead of the target of 2030. India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity increased nearly 300% in the last 10 years. Our solar energy capacity increased over 3,000% in the same period. But we are not resting on these achievements. We remain focused on strengthening existing solutions. We are also looking at new and innovative areas. This is where Green Hydrogen comes into the picture.

Friends, Green Hydrogen is emerging as a promising addition to the world’s energy landscape. It can help in decarbonizing industries that are difficult to electrify. Refineries, fertilizers, steel, heavy-duty transportation – many such sectors will benefit.Green Hydrogen can also act as a storage solution for surplus renewable energy. India has already launched the   National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023. 

We want to make India a global hub for the production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen. The National Green Hydrogen Mission is giving an impetus to innovation, infrastructure, industry and investment. We are investing in cutting-edge research and development.  Partnerships between industry and academia are being formed. Start-ups and entrepreneurs who are working in this domain are being encouraged. There is also a great potential for a green jobs eco-system to develop. To enable this, we are also working on skill development for our youth in this sector.

Friends, Climate change and energy transition are global concerns. Our answers also need to be global in nature. International partnership is critical for promoting Green Hydrogen’s impact on decarbonization. Scaling up production, minimising costs and building infrastructure can happen faster through cooperation. We also need to jointly invest in research and innovation to push technology further. In September 2023, the G20 Summit happened in India. In this Summit, there was a special focus on Green Hydrogen. The New Delhi G-20 Leaders’ declaration adopted five high-level voluntary principles on Hydrogen. These principles are helping us in the creation of a unified roadmap. All of us must remember - the decisions we make now, will decide the life of our future generations.

Friends, in such a crucial sector, it is important for domain experts to lead the way and work together. Particularly, I urge the global scientific community to come together to explore various aspects. Scientists and innovators can suggest changes in public policy to help the Green Hydrogen sector. There are also many questions that the scientific community can look into. Can we improve the efficiency of electrolysers and other components in Green Hydrogen production? Can we explore the use of sea water and municipal waste water for production? How can we enable the use of Green Hydrogen in public transport, shipping, and inland waterways? Exploring such topics together will greatly help green energy transition across the world. I am confident that this conference will help the exchange of many ideas on such issues.

Friends, Humanity has faced many challenges in the past. Each time, we overcame adversities through solutions that were collective and innovative. It the same spirit of collective and innovative action that will guide us towards a sustainable future. We can achieve anything when we are together. Let us work to accelerate the development and deployment of Green Hydrogen.

Once again, I send my best wishes to everyone involved in the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen.

Thank You!

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MJPS