Cabinet approves Green Hydrogen Mission: A step towards India’s Energy Transition

On the 75th Independence Day, PM announced the Hydrogen Policy to cut down carbon emissions by increasing the use of renewable sources of energy. The emphasis was made on generating Hydrogen from green resources for the creation, production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen. Ammonia and Hydrogen have emerged as future fuels to replace fossil fuels for global sustainable growth and development. 

The Union Cabinet has approved the budget for National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of 19,744 crores. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will formulate the necessary guidelines and is entrusted with the power of implementing the policy. The incentive aims towards boosting investments, providing over 6 lakh employment opportunities, achieving decarbonisation, and making India a global hub for manufacturing clean sources of energy. 

It aims to develop the production capacity of Hydrogen to reach 5MMT per annum with the addition of a reduction in fossil fuel imports of over one lakh crore. 

Securing India’s Energy Needs by Channelizing Renewable Energy 

Hydrogen is a zero-emission fuel burned with oxygen. Hydrogen can be used as both fuel cells and internal combustion engines which can be considered as the direct replacement for fossil fuels. Most countries opting for Decarbonisation plans include Green Hydrogen as a plan and source of achieving clean energy because combusting hydrogen releases only heat and steam. Under public-private partnership for R&D which includes the Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership is also an integral part of the mission. 

India in its geographical location has an edge to utilize the natural elements which are available in abundance for building a sustainable future. India imports over 80% of its oil and more than 50% of its gas demand from various countries. Imports at such huge costs increase the Current Account Deficit (CAD) which affects the economy. Green Hydrogen has immense potential to reduce import dependency and increase the chances of self-sufficiency. With fast-growing technologies around the world, several organizations can take up initiatives to convert bio and plastic waste into hydrogen which can reduce the twin problems of waste management as well as energy security. 

One of the biggest challenges for the Green Hydrogen Initiative would be the production as it uses Carbon Capture Storage and Hydrogen Cell technology which are very immature and require huge amounts of investment. India currently lacks the required technology for the advancement that developed countries have at their call. Hydrogen leaks easily which adds to a significant amount for storage and transportation. It lacks smell which makes any leak detection almost impossible which adds to the high risk and potential danger. 

The Green Hydrogen mission emphasizes building a sustainable environment with renewable energy resources available to us within our reach. One of the critical problems we witness in today’s world is climate change which is affecting every living being. Unless and until we take initiative for a better world and environment, our earth is doomed. 

India is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 as it is important to remove greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Our collective goal should be Hydrogen driven green economy for the country.