Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference in New Delhi and launched a ₹100 crore Call for Proposals to support start-ups developing hydrogen technologies. The scheme will provide up to ₹5 crore per project for innovations in hydrogen production, storage, transportation and utilisation.
The two-day conference, organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), brings together researchers, start-ups, industry leaders and policymakers. Around 25 start-ups are showcasing solutions ranging from electrolyser manufacturing and AI-driven optimisation to biological hydrogen production.
Addressing the inaugural session, Joshi said the government’s focus is to turn research into real-world solutions that will “power industries, clean cities, and create lakhs of new jobs.” He underlined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen.
Launched in 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore, NGHM is built on four pillars — policy and regulatory framework, demand creation, R&D and innovation, and enabling infrastructure.
According to MNRE, the dedicated R&D scheme under NGHM has already awarded 23 projects in its first round of proposals. These projects cover safety and integration, biomass-based hydrogen production, hydrogen applications and alternative production routes, with participation from IITs, IISERs, CSIR labs and industry partners.
The second round of R&D proposals, announced in July, will remain open until September 15, 2025. India is also strengthening international cooperation, with over 30 joint proposals received under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council on waste-to-hydrogen production.
The Minister highlighted that India’s hydrogen ecosystem is shifting from vision to execution, with pilot projects already underway:
- A port-based hydrogen project at V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu.
- Five steel sector pilots to test hydrogen-based decarbonisation.
- Hydrogen buses and refuelling stations in the transport sector.
- Shipping retrofits and refuelling infrastructure at Tuticorin Port.
- A green ammonia auction that discovered a record low price of ₹49.75/kg, down from ₹100.28/kg in 2024. Supplies will begin at Paradeep Phosphates in Odisha.
To enable large-scale adoption, the government has rolled out a Green Hydrogen Standard and Certification Scheme aligned with international norms, sanctioned five new testing facilities, and certified over 5,600 trainees in hydrogen-related skills. Regulatory waivers, such as transmission charge exemptions and streamlined clearances, have also been introduced.
Dedicated hydrogen hubs are being developed at Kandla, Paradip and Tuticorin ports to build export competitiveness. Both large enterprises such as NTPC, Reliance and IOCL and smaller start-ups are investing heavily in the sector.
NGHM aims to achieve 5 million metric tonnes of annual green hydrogen production by 2030, backed by 125 GW of renewable energy capacity, ₹8 lakh crore in investments, six lakh jobs, and 50 million tonnes of annual CO₂ reduction.
Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi, and NGHM Mission Director Dr. Abhay Bhakre also addressed the conference, highlighting the role of R&D, collaboration and innovation in building India’s green hydrogen ecosystem.
The conference will continue on September 12 with expert sessions, roundtables and a start-up exhibition.
