Union Minister of India Anurag Thakur on Wednesday approved a pilot outlay of 190 billion for the National Green Hydrogen project of India. Out of these INR 19,744 crores, INR 17,000 crore will be used for the electrolyzers and manufacturing of green hydrogen. While the remaining amount will be used for the development of green hydrogen hubs.
Let’s understand this announcement from a layman’s point of view
What is Green Hydrogen and when did it first air?
Green hydrogen is a type of hydrogen that is produced using renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to generate electricity that is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis. It is considered a clean and sustainable alternative to hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, which generates greenhouse gases when it is produced.
According to the National Greenhouse mission which focuses on developing India as a hub for manufacturing green hydrogen in the country.
This program was first flagged in the year 2022 by the Ministry of Power which said, “Manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia shall be allowed to set up bunkers near Ports for storage of Green Ammonia for export/use by shipping. The land for the storage purpose shall be provided by the respective Port Authorities at applicable charges.” They will also provide a total of approximately Rs 13,000 crore which will be allocated to provide direct incentives for green hydrogen production in India.
Future plans for Green Hydrogen
Anurag Thakur said apart from the development and manufacturing function they will undertake the development of infrastructure, shipping, and transportation activities. They will also invest in the research and development of green hydrogen with the aid of dedicated experts in the field.
In his announcement, he mentioned “To encourage manufacturing of low-cost equipment and technologies, two types of incentives will be given — incentives will be given on electrolyzer manufacturing for five years and incentive on the production of green hydrogen. Green hydrogen hubs will also be developed.”
Read More: Top 10 Green Hydrogen Companies In India
Conclusion
It is good to hear that the Indian government has approved a green hydrogen mission with an initial outlay of INR 19,000 crore (about $190 billion). This is a significant investment in the development of green hydrogen technology and it will likely lead to the expansion of clean energy sources in India. It could also help to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and decrease its carbon footprint.
Green Hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize the environment and pave a green foundation for India. As the center pointed out the demand for green hydrogen may shoot five times in the coming years.
