Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the second edition of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024) in Delhi via video message, where he reiterated India’s commitment in tackling climate change and the emergence of green hydrogen as a promising addition to the world’s energy landscape.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighted, “India is fully committed to building a cleaner, greener planet. We were the first among G20 nations to meet our Paris Agreement commitments on green energy, well ahead of schedule. While we continue to strengthen existing solutions, we are also focused on embracing new and innovative approaches. Green hydrogen is one such breakthrough, with the potential to decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors like refineries, fertilizers, steel, and heavy-duty transportation.”

The Prime Minister further highlighted, “We aim to position India as a global hub for the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in 2023, is a critical step toward realizing this ambition. It will drive innovation, build infrastructure, stimulate industry growth, and attract investment in the green hydrogen sector.”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi emphasized India’s leadership in renewable energy development, stating, “India's non-fossil fuel capacity has increased nearly 300% over the last decade, and our solar energy capacity has seen an astounding 3000% growth in the same period.”

On occasion, Shri Prahlad Venkatesh Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, detailed the government’s strategic initiatives aimed at expanding renewable energy capacity and fostering green hydrogen development. He remarked that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is moving towards becoming a global leader in green hydrogen.

Alluding to the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the minister averred that NGHM was launched with the goal of positioning India as a key player in this emerging sector, ensuring both energy self-reliance and economic growth. “This mission not only has the potential to attract ₹8 lakh crore in investments and generate 6 lakh jobs but will also significantly reduce reliance on imported natural gas and ammonia, leading to savings of ₹1 lakh crore. As we move forward, our efforts will also contribute to reducing carbon emissions by 5 MMT by 2030, positioning India as a beacon of sustainable development on the global stage”, he said.

Shri Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, emphasized the ambitious targets set by India's National Green Hydrogen Mission. He stated, "India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 involves a multifaceted approach, including a significant focus on green hydrogen. Our goal of producing 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030 is a critical step in decarbonizing our economy. This will require an investment of $100 billion and the development of 125 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity.

The mission will not only reduce 15 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually but will also generate substantial savings in imports. We are implementing pilot projects, hydrogen hubs, and R&D initiatives to drive innovation in this sector, supported by a robust financial outlay and a comprehensive incentive framework. The success of this mission will depend on the collaborative efforts of both the central and state governments, as well as industry partners."

Shri Bhupinder S. Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, highlighted India’s renewable energy achievements and future goals. He highlighted Green Hydrogen's role as a clean energy source with zero CO2 emissions and its diverse applications across multiple sectors. Shri Bhalla further emphasized India’s ambitious Green Hydrogen objectives, in line with the Prime Minister’s Panchamrit plan. This includes the targets of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2070.

Shri Bhupinder S. Bhalla also discussed the budget allocated for pilot projects in the transportation and shipping sectors, the creation of green hydrogen hubs, research and development, skill development, as well as components like storage and transportation. Hydrogen demand in India is projected to grow significantly, with plans to reach 29 MMT per annum by 2050. He also spoke about the SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition) programme, regulations, and codes and standards, highlighting that 152 standards have been recommended, with 81 already published.”

Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, shared insights on the role of scientific research in advancing green hydrogen technology. “Innovative research and technological advancements are crucial for making green hydrogen affordable and scalable. We must continue to support R&D to overcome challenges and harness the full potential of green hydrogen,” he emphasized.

The session also featured a Video Presentation titled “India’s Journey Towards a Green Hydrogen Economy,” illustrating India’s progress and future aspirations in the green hydrogen sector.

The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). Dr. Kalaiselvi expressed gratitude to the participants and highlighted India’s path to green hydrogen leadership. “India stands at the forefront of a transformative era in green hydrogen. With abundant renewable resources and ambitious initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission, our country is well-positioned to lead globally”, she said.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in association with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, are organising the 2^nd International Conference of Green Hydrogen 2024 (ICGH2024). The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and EY are the implementation and knowledge partners, respectively. FICCI is the industry partner.

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Sushil Kumar