changeadminIndia’s energy transition is entering a decisive phase, as the country reduces its dependence on fossil fuels and increases domestic clean energy production. This aligns with its vision to become a developed nation by 2047 and achieve Net Zero by 2070.
In this transition, Green hydrogen has emerged as a clean, scalable alternative fuel that can decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and support India’s goals for energy security and industrial growth.
The Indian government launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) in 2023 as an umbrella programme to establish a Green Hydrogen ecosystem and catalyse a systemic response to the opportunities and challenges in this sector.
India’s Green Hydrogen Mission represents more than an energy initiative; it is a strategic pathway toward industrial competitiveness, import reduction, and long-term energy security—linking sustainability with self-reliance.
Green Hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, instead of fossil fuels. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis, powered by electricity from solar panels or wind turbines.
Hydrogen produced this way is considered “green” if the total emissions from the process are very low, not exceeding 2 kg of CO₂-equivalent per 1 kg of Hydrogen produced.
Green Hydrogen can also be produced by converting biomass (such as agricultural waste) into hydrogen, provided emissions remain below the same limit.
This fuel has found applications across a variety of sectors, including transport, power generation, chemicals, and steel.
India’s Green Hydrogen Mission aims to build the capacity and ecosystem required to position the country as a global leader in clean hydrogen.
By 2030, the Mission will be supported by about 125 GW of new renewable energy capacity dedicated to green hydrogen production, along with investments exceeding ₹800,000 crore (~US$90 billion).
Beyond its direct uses, India’s Green Hydrogen Mission will create green jobs, with more than 600,000 people expected to be employed. Furthermore, it will reduce fossil fuel imports by more than ₹100,000 crore (~US$11.3 billion), and avoid nearly 50 MMT of greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2030.
As of May 2025, 19 companies have been allocated a cumulative annual production capacity of 862,000 tonnes of Green Hydrogen, and 15 firms have been awarded 3,000 MW of annual electrolyser manufacturing capacity.
Sectoral Innovation & Implementation Under India’s Green Hydrogen Mission
Launched in January 2023, the National Green Hydrogen Mission has an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore till Financial Year 2029-30.
This includes ₹17,490 crore for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme, ₹1,466 crore for pilot projects, ₹400 crore for research and development (R&D), and ₹388 crore towards other Mission components.
The Mission focuses on four key pillars: policy and regulatory framework; demand creation; research and development & innovation; and enabling infrastructure and ecosystem development, with the aim of positioning India as a global hub for green hydrogen production, use, and export.
To advance the vision of India’s Green Hydrogen Mission, the government has launched multiple schemes to accelerate the production and use of green hydrogen, promote domestic manufacturing and exports, ensure regulatory compliance, and strengthen public–private partnerships.
Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Scheme: A financial incentive mechanism with an outlay of ₹17,490 crore through 2029-30 to support the manufacturing of electrolysers for green hydrogen production.
Development of Green Hydrogen Hubs: In October 2025, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced the recognition of three major ports, Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port Authority (Odisha) as Green Hydrogen Hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
These coastal gateways will serve as integrated centres for production, consumption, and future export.
Standards, Certification and Safety: Launched in April 2025, the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) provides a national framework to certify hydrogen as “green” by assessing its greenhouse gas emissions across the entire production cycle.
The scheme ensures that only hydrogen produced using renewable energy, and within the prescribed emission limits, can be officially labelled as Green Hydrogen. It provides transparency, traceability, and credibility for producers, buyers, and export markets.
Under the GHCI, obtaining a ‘Final Certificate’ is mandatory for any green hydrogen production facility in India that (a) receives subsidies or incentives from the central or state governments, or (b) sells or uses the hydrogen domestically (in India).
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the Nodal Authority responsible for accrediting agencies that monitor and certify projects.
Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP): India’s Green Hydrogen Mission fosters public-private partnerships for R&D through the Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP).
It is designed to support the development of advanced, globally competitive hydrogen technologies through collaborative research involving Government institutions, industry, and academic organisations.
The programme includes establishing a dedicated R&D fund with contributions from both the Government and industry. Under SHIP, consortium-based research will be encouraged to leverage the strengths of national scientific institutions such as BARC, ISRO, CSIR, IITs, IISc, and other partners.
The objective is to drive innovation across the Green Hydrogen value chain and support domestic manufacturing capability.
A dedicated ₹400 crore R&D scheme under the Mission is already powering 23 cutting-edge projects across areas such as hydrogen production, safety systems, storage, and industrial applications.
In addition, a ₹100 crore Call for Proposals has been launched to support start-ups developing innovative technologies for hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilisation, with funding of up to ₹5 crore per project. These initiatives aim to develop globally competitive technologies and reduce costs across the hydrogen value chain.
The second round of R&D proposals, launched in July 2025, focuses on collaborative research and industry participation, with more than 30 joint proposals submitted internationally under the EU–India Trade and Technology Council.
Pathways For Adoption
The roadmap is not limited to policy formulation and subsidies; India’s Green Hydrogen Mission is also being introduced across key sectors to reduce emissions, support domestic manufacturing, and replace fossil-based hydrogen and feedstocks.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission is facilitating applications across industry, mobility, and infrastructure.
Industrial
Fertilisers: Replacing fossil-fuel-based feedstocks with Green Ammonia is part of India’s clean energy transition. A recent auction for a long-term supply of green ammonia to fertiliser units, with an aggregate procurement capacity of 7.24 lakh metric tonnes per annum, at a price of ₹55.75 per kg.
Petroleum Refining: The Mission is seamlessly facilitating the replacement of fossil-based hydrogen with green hydrogen in refineries, directly reducing the carbon footprint of this essential industry.
Steel: Pilot projects have been initiated in collaboration with public and private steel producers to evaluate the use of Green Hydrogen for iron reduction and other process applications.
These green steel pilots are designed to assess the technical feasibility, economic viability and safety of hydrogen-based steelmaking in Indian operating conditions.
Mobility and Transport
Road Transport: Five major pilot projects have been initiated, involving 37 hydrogen vehicles (buses and trucks) and 9 refuelling stations across 10 routes.
The pilot project vehicles to be deployed for the trial include 15 hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and 22 hydrogen internal-combustion-engine vehicles. The project’s financial support would be approximately Rs. 208 crore.
In March 2025, Tata Motors launched the first-ever trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks in New Delhi.
Shipping: In September 2025, a port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project was commissioned at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, featuring a ₹25 crore, 10 Nm³/hr facility that will supply green hydrogen for applications such as street lighting and EV charging.
Equally significant, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla has commissioned a megawatt-scale, indigenous Green Hydrogen Facility developed at a cost of about ₹13 crore, with an annual production capacity of nearly 140 metric tonnes.
Additionally, a ₹42 crore, 750 m³ Green Methanol Bunkering and Refuelling Facility is being developed to support cleaner maritime operations and establish a Coastal Green Shipping Corridor between Kandla and Tuticorin.
High-Altitude Mobility: In November 2024, NTPC commissioned the world’s highest-altitude (3,650 m) Green Hydrogen Mobility Project in Leh, which includes 5 hydrogen intra-city buses and a fuelling station, demonstrating the fuel’s reliability in extreme conditions.
This station will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 350 MT/year and release 230 MT/year of pure oxygen into the atmosphere, equivalent to planting approximately 13,000 trees.
Enabling Framework
Beyond direct incentives, India’s Green Hydrogen Mission includes a comprehensive enabling framework that is being established to de-risk investments and accelerate development.
Policy Framework: To facilitate the delivery of low-cost renewable energy for hydrogen production, the government has provided a waiver of Interstate transmission charges and ensured a time-bound grant of Open Access.
Skill Development: A coordinated skill development programme is being implemented, which has already led to the certification of more than 5,600 trainees in hydrogen-related qualifications, building a future-ready workforce.
Building Global Partnerships
In 2024, India made its debut in the international hydrogen community at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam with the inauguration of its first India Pavilion.
This positions India as a prime partner for global investment and a key partner in the emerging global hydrogen economy.
EU-India Collaboration: Under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, collaboration is expanding, with more than 30 joint proposals on hydrogen production from waste.
India-UK Partnership: A dedicated Standards Partnership Workshop in February 2025 was held to strengthen cooperation on hydrogen standardisation, focusing on safe, scalable, and globally harmonised Regulations, Codes and Standards (RCS) to enhance trade.
Partnership with H2Global: In November 2024, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) signed an MoU with Germany’s H2Global Stiftung to collaborate on market-based mechanisms and joint tender designs to facilitate the export of Indian green hydrogen to international markets.
Singapore: In October 2025, Sembcorp Industries signed MoUs with V.O. Chidambaranar and the Paradip Port Authorities to develop integrated green hydrogen and ammonia hubs for production, storage, and exports.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Clean Growth
Green hydrogen is central to India’s clean energy strategy, driving the shift toward a low-carbon, self-reliant economy.
Building on one of the world’s most competitive renewable energy bases, India’s Green Hydrogen Mission is expanding domestic production, scaling innovation, and opening global markets for green hydrogen and its derivatives.
The Mission reduces dependence on fossil fuels, accelerates industrial transformation, and positions India to lead credibly in the global clean energy transition—advancing a future that is sustainable, secure, and self-sustaining.
Add comment