India has set aside over INR 19,000 crores to establish itself as a global leader in the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen. According to Climate Risk Horizons, without stringent regulations, India’s green hydrogen endeavors could inadvertently elevate the country’s carbon footprint and contribute to environmental degradation.

Nov 01, 2023

India is rapidly scaling up its investments in green hydrogen projects, setting aside over INR 19,000 crores to establish itself as a global leader in the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen. However, according to a recent report by Bengaluru-based think-tank Climate Risk Horizons cautioned that without stringent regulations, India’s green hydrogen endeavors could inadvertently elevate the country’s carbon footprint and contribute to environmental degradation. Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released a research and development “roadmap” for the Green Hydrogen Mission, budgeted at INR 400 crore for 2-3 years alone. According to  MNRE, the initial outlay for the mission will be INR 19,744 crore. Their aim is to make India “the Global Hub” for the production, use, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

To accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen technology, the Indian government has allocated INR 17,490 crore for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program. This initiative aims to stimulate the production of green hydrogen and the manufacturing of electrolyzers, which are crucial components in the hydrogen production process. The SIGHT program is expected to be instrumental in bolstering India’s green hydrogen ecosystem and paving the way for a sustainable energy future. Additionally, an amount of INR 1,466 crore is also earmarked for pilot projects, and INR 388 crore “towards other Mission components”, per the ministry’s website.  However, India’s green hydrogen push could end up increasing the country’s carbon emissions unless the right safeguards and proper carbon accounting systems are put in place, cautioned a report published by Bengaluru-based energy think-tank Climate Risk Horizons.

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