National Green Hydrogen Mission: Strategic Framework and Progress

Strategic Framework & Objectives

India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in 2023, aims to position the country as a global green hydrogen powerhouse by 2030. The mission aligns with India’s net-zero 2070 goal and focuses on three pillars: production scalability, industrial decarbonization, and energy security.

Key Components:

• Production Targets:
  • Produce 5 MMT/year of green hydrogen by 2030, expandable to 10 MMT with export growth.
  • Develop 125 GW of dedicated renewable energy capacity for electrolysis.
• Economic Goals:
  • Attract ₹8 lakh crore in investments and reduce fossil fuel imports by ₹1 lakh crore/year.
  • Create 600,000+ jobs across manufacturing, R&D, and logistics.
• SIGHT Scheme:
  • ₹17,490 crore allocated to subsidize electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen projects.

2. Progress & Challenges (2024–2025)

India has emerged as a top-5 green hydrogen producer, with pilot projects operational in steel, transport, and city gas grids. Costs have dropped to ₹120/kg[1], driven by economies of scale and domestic electrolyser innovation.

Recent Milestones:

• Electrolyser Manufacturing: Capacity surged to 8 GW/year thereby reducing import reliance[2].
• Global Partnerships: Signed export deals with Germany and Japan for 1.2 MMT of green ammonia by 2030[3].
• Infrastructure: Developing hydrogen hubs in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, with port upgrades for ammonia exports.

Challenges:

• Grid Integration: Balancing renewable energy demand for electrolysis with existing power needs.
• Demand Creation: Mandating 10% green hydrogen use in refineries and fertilizers by 2026.
• Certification: Establishing globally recognized standards to ensure hydrogen’s “green” credentials.

The Road Ahead:
The mission’s success hinges on public-private collaboration, R&D in hydrogen storage, and policies to attract foreign investment. With sustained momentum— India could capture 10% of the global green hydrogen market by 2035[4]— reshaping its energy landscape.

[1] http://gh2.org/countries/india

[2] https://www.businesstoday.in/industry/energy/story/whats-the-national-green-hydrogen-mission-which-pm-modi-said-will-become-big-in-the-next-five-years-422449-2024-03-21

[3] https://nghm.mnre.gov.in/

[4] https://nghm.mnre.gov.in/