India's Green Hydrogen Push: A Leap Towards Sustainable Energy

India leverages its solar energy abundance and power grid investments to lead in Green Hydrogen production, as highlighted by Union Ministers at the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen. Significant investments and policy supports are poised to make India a global hub for green energy.

India has a natural advantage in producing Green Hydrogen due to the low cost and abundance of solar energy and investments in the power grid, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said on Wednesday.

Addressing the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen, Puri noted that with one of the largest synchronous grids globally, India can handle intermittent renewable energy. The country's solar capacity has surged from 2.6 GW in 2014 to 85.5 GW, positioning it to meet rising green energy demands.

Puri highlighted that over Rs. 30 lakh crores are expected to invest in achieving a 500 GW target by 2030, with multilateral development banks pledging up to USD 27 billion for India's green growth. The Green Hydrogen Policy, aiming for 5 million tonnes production by 2030, offers incentives to accelerate progress.

The Minister emphasized that achieving mission targets could save Rs. 1 lakh crores in fossil fuel imports and attract Rs. 8 lakh crores in investments, creating over 6 lakh jobs. He urged industry collaboration to make India a global green hydrogen hub.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, remarked that green hydrogen integrates India's energy mix with industrial processes, enhancing global position and environmental goals. Savings of Rs. 1 lakh crore from reduced natural gas imports were also projected.

(With inputs from agencies.)