India’s push toward green hydrogen could strengthen the country’s energy security while creating new industries and employment opportunities, according to Abhay Bakre, Director General of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, The Hindu businessLine reported.
Speaking at the ‘MIR NetZero Vision 2047 Summit’ organised by the Italy-based MIR Group in Mangaluru on Friday, Bakre said green hydrogen offers a practical path toward achieving net-zero emissions. He noted that it can replace several fossil fuels currently used in sectors dependent on oil and gas.
Bakre said trials are underway to use green hydrogen to power trucks and buses, which typically run on diesel. Efforts are also being made to convert green hydrogen into methanol for use in ships. Around 60 ships worldwide are already operating on green fuels, and he said India has the potential to produce such fuels at competitive costs.
He added that the fertiliser industry, which relies on carbon-intensive fuels such as natural gas and grey ammonia, could shift to green ammonia. Describing green ammonia as a net-zero fuel, he said its use would support the production of environmentally friendly fertilisers. Refineries are also exploring the use of green hydrogen in their operations.
“Green hydrogen is the next stage of clean fuel that can help India reach net zero in sectors where solar and wind energy alone are not enough,” he said.
Bakre emphasised that significant investment will be required to develop the sector. However, he said the growth of green hydrogen would generate jobs, build new industries, and enhance the country’s energy independence. He added that India has strong potential to take a leading role in this field.
At the same event, Raffaele Marrazzo, Chief Executive Officer of MIR Group, outlined the company’s plans for sustainable urban development. He said the focus is on reducing emissions from existing buildings and developing structures that generate more energy than they consume, while also managing their own water and waste needs.
Marrazzo said the company aims to lower its environmental impact by using renewable materials produced locally, reducing plastic use, and shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources for heating and cooling.
He added that the company’s goal is to help cities become self-reliant by producing energy locally and making use of natural resources such as sunlight, wind, water, and earth.
MIR Group plans to set up a manufacturing facility in the Mangalore Special Economic Zone. The proposed plant will have the capacity to produce 1.5 million square metres of building-integrated photovoltaic panels annually for use in roofs and building facades.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, said the proposed facility highlights the growing potential of the coastal Karnataka region as a hub for new investment and clean energy projects.
