India’s ambitious green hydrogen journey took another decisive step forward with the inauguration of the country’s first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference. Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, opened the two-day event, underscoring the government’s commitment to building a full-fledged hydrogen economy and unveiling a ₹100 crore Call for Proposals aimed at start-ups working on breakthrough hydrogen technologies.
The new scheme provides up to ₹5 crore per project, targeting innovation in hydrogen production, storage, transport and utilisation. At the conference, 25 start-ups showcased innovations ranging from electrolyser manufacturing to AI-powered optimisation and biological hydrogen solutions — signalling the diverse opportunities opening up in this emerging sector.
R&D Progress Under NGHM
The Minister detailed the progress of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore. The dedicated R&D programme has already awarded 23 projects, covering safety and integration, biomass-based hydrogen, non-biomass hydrogen production, and advanced applications. The projects are being executed by IITs, IISERs, CSIR labs, and leading industry partners.
The second round of proposals, announced in July 2025, remains open, with strong global interest. More than 30 joint proposals have been submitted under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, including projects exploring hydrogen production from waste.
From Vision to Action
Joshi stressed that India’s green hydrogen ecosystem is moving rapidly from policy vision to real-world projects. Among the highlights:
- Ports: India’s first port-based green hydrogen pilot project at V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu is underway.
- Steel: Five pilot projects are testing hydrogen-based decarbonisation in steelmaking.
- Shipping: Vessels are being retrofitted and refuelling infrastructure is coming up at Tuticorin Port.
- Transport: Hydrogen buses and refuelling stations are already operational.
- Fertilisers: India’s first-ever green ammonia auction discovered a historic low price of ₹49.75 per kg — down from over ₹100 last year — with supplies due to start at Paradeep Phosphates.
Building the Ecosystem
The conference also highlighted enabling frameworks that have been put in place. These include a national Green Hydrogen Standard and Certification Scheme aligned with 140 global standards, sanctioning of five testing facilities, and certification of over 5,600 trainees in hydrogen-related skills.
The government has granted regulatory waivers such as transmission charge exemptions and faster clearances, while dedicated hydrogen hubs are being developed at Kandla, Paradip, and Tuticorin ports. Large corporations like NTPC, Reliance and IOCL are investing heavily, alongside start-ups and MSMEs, to create a robust domestic hydrogen value chain.
A Global Opportunity
India’s green hydrogen targets remain bold: five million metric tonnes of production annually by 2030, supported by 125 GW of renewable capacity, ₹8 lakh crore in investments, six lakh jobs, and a 50-million-tonne annual cut in CO₂ emissions.
Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood told the gathering that “R&D is not optional but essential,” noting that sustained innovation will determine India’s leadership in this field. MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi added that the Green Hydrogen R&D programme has a budget of ₹400 crore, and the ministry stands ready to support stakeholders in driving the mission forward.
Mission Director Dr. Abhay Bhakre concluded that India is standing at the threshold of becoming a global leader in green hydrogen, with innovation, collaboration, and policy alignment all pointing towards rapid scale-up.
With its mix of start-up energy, industrial investment and government backing, the sector is moving decisively from concept to execution. The first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference has set the tone: India is positioning itself not just as a participant, but as a leader in the global clean hydrogen race.