India logs lowest-ever rate of $3.08/kg for green hydrogen

Kant said the rising crude prices remained a key challenge for the nation, with every $10 per barrel increase potentially adding $13–14 billion to India’s annual import bill, widening the current account deficit, and exerting pressure on the rupee.

“Geopolitical uncertainties are expected to continue testing the country’s energy security. India’s next step isn’t just adding clean capacity, but delivering reliable clean power at home: high-PLF solar-wind hybrids, Electric vehicle momentum, modern grids, large-scale batteries & pumped hydro storage, and firm low-carbon base-load like nuclear. We need it all,” he said.

India is among the world’s top three energy consumers and electricity demand continues to grow every year. The total electricity generation has increased from 1,739.09 billion units (BU) in 2023–24 to 1,829.69 BU in 2024–25, a growth of 5.21 per cent. For 2025–26, the generation target has been set at 2,000.4 BU.

Green hydrogen has emerged as a key pillar of India’s clean energy transition, particularly for sectors where reducing emissions is difficult, such as steel, fertilisers, refining, shipping and heavy transport.

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 through electrolysis, using electricity from solar panels or wind turbines. According to standards notified by the government, hydrogen made this way is considered “green” if the total emissions from the process are very low, not more than 2 kg of CO₂ equivalent for every 1 kg of hydrogen produced, taken as an average over last 12-month period. Green hydrogen can also be produced by converting biomass (like agricultural waste) into hydrogen, as long as emissions remain below the same limit.