India to become new global hub of green hydrogen: PM Modi

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 15

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the setting up of the National Hydrogen Mission with the aim of making India the new global hub of ‘green hydrogen’, and also its largest exporter.

“Green hydrogen is the future of the world. Today, I announce the setting up of the National Hydrogen Mission with the aim of becoming the new global hub of green hydrogen, and also its largest exporter,” PM Modi said in his Independence Day speech.

The announcement comes ahead of COP-26 in Glasgow, where nations will be under pressure to pledge more ambitious climate action and substantial financing, especially regarding energy requirements.

Energy is integral for any fast-growing economy and India has taken numerous steps, including emerging fuels, to tackle the global problem of climate change and is on the path of decoupling its emissions from economic growth.

In those terms Hydrogen has great potential to emerge as a future source of energy.

Last year in October, Prime Minister Modi outlined a new energy map of India with seven key drivers and one of them was development of emerging fuels, particularly hydrogen.

The government had also announced the National Hydrogen Mission in the Union Budget 2021 for making a hydrogen roadmap for the country.

Currently, work is going on a pilot project on blue hydrogen, hydrogen CNG and green hydrogen.

Inclusion of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the future energy portfolio presents a unique opportunity to address emerging energy vectors, including power to gas, power to power, and power to mobility and even vehicle to grid applications, say officials.