On the eve of World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, the Government of India organized an event in New Delhi on October 7, 2023, to explore and harness the potential of hydrogen as a green and sustainable energy source. The event, organized by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy in association with Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited, gathered hydrogen experts from the industry, academia, and government.
During the event, the R&D Roadmap for the National Green Hydrogen Mission was unveiled by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. The roadmap, with a budget of Rs. 400 crores, aims to guide the development of a robust research and development ecosystem for the commercialization of Green Hydrogen. It focuses on developing new materials, technologies, and infrastructure to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of green hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. The R&D program also prioritizes safety and addresses technical barriers in developing a hydrogen economy.
In a video message, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri R. K. Singh, emphasized the transformative potential of hydrogen for a sustainable future. He reiterated the commitment to research, development, and deployment of hydrogen solutions and encouraged industries and communities to embrace hydrogen as a key player in the energy transition.
Renowned scientist and Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, delivered the keynote speech, highlighting that green hydrogen is crucial for decarbonization. He emphasized the need to focus on mission-mode projects in the initial phase to yield results in 2–3 years. Prof. Sood stressed the importance of domestic capacity for the production of electrolyzers and the need for standards for Type IV cylinders for storing hydrogen.
The event also marked the launch of the National Single Window System page for approvals under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The page will serve as a single window for industry stakeholders to obtain all approvals related to projects under the mission.
The Secretary of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, stated that India has entered the green hydrogen space at the right time and is poised to become a leader in the sector. He emphasized the significance of the R&D Roadmap to ensure that India stays at the cutting edge of the global green hydrogen sector.
The event also featured discussions on the challenges and opportunities in green hydrogen development, the role of hydrogen in storage, and the launch of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme. The winners of the National Hydrogen Maha Quiz were announced, and a roundtable meeting was held to create synergy between the banking system and green hydrogen developers to facilitate low-cost finance.
World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day is a global initiative to promote awareness and understanding of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source, along with fuel cell technology. It provides a platform to acknowledge the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells in addressing challenges related to climate change, energy security, and environmental sustainability.