Gujarat working to become India’s green hydrogen hub

Context

Gujarat is initiating the process to establish itself as India's primary hub for green hydrogen production, aiming to maintain its leading position in the industrial sector.

Why the focus is on ‘green hydrogen’?

India has set its sight on becoming energy independent by 2047 and achieving Net Zero by 2070.

Types of Hydrogen (based on extraction methods)

Grey Hydrogen: It is produced via coal or lignite gasification (black or brown), or via a process called steam methane reformation (SMR) of natural gas or methane (grey).
Blue Hydrogen: It is produced via natural gas or coal gasification combined with carbon capture storage (CCS) or carbon capture use (CCU) technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
Green Hydrogen: It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.

To achieve this target, increasing renewable energy use across all economic spheres is central to India's Energy Transition.
Green Hydrogen is considered a promising alternative for enabling this transition.
Hydrogen is the simplest and smallest element in the periodic table. No matter how it is produced, it ends up with the same carbon-free molecule.
Hydrogen can be utilized for:
- long-duration storage of renewable energy
- replacement of fossil fuels in industry
- clean transportation
- decentralized power generation, aviation, and marine transport

India’s Target

Under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), India has set a target of becoming a net-zero emissions country by 2070.
The country also aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 by sourcing 50% of its energy from renewable sources.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 January 2022, with the intended objectives of:
- Making India a leading producer and supplier of Green Hydrogen in the world
- Creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives
- Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock
- Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities
- Attracting investment and business opportunities for the industry
- Creating opportunities for employment and economic development
- Supporting R&D projects
In April 2022, the government launched the country’s only pure green hydrogen pilot plant with an installed capacity of 10kg per day at its Jorhat pump station in Assam.
In January this year, the government commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project in the piped natural gas network.