India has talked a good game in laying out a strategy for emissions reductions that it can present to the UN as nations gather this month at COP30 in Belem, Brazil. The world’s third-biggest polluter has promised major strides in renewable energy deployment and green hydrogen production that would underpin its nationally determined contribution (NDC) in the fight to keep global temperatures from rising 2°C above preindustrial levels. But the vision is clashing with market realities, and officials are now having to walk back India’s stated ambitions, particularly around electrolytic hydrogen, as they delay submission of the country’s updated NDC. New Delhi confirmed this week that it will miss its targets for the production of green hydrogen — made using an electroylzer powered by renewable energy — by at least 40% due to limited demand domestically and internationally. India had previously planned to produce 5 million tons per year of green hydrogen by 2030. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Sarangi now says the target is 3 million tons/yr by 2030, but he is still optimistic India can reach 5 million tons/yr by 2032. Other officials say even 1 million tons/yr by 2030 would be a significant achievement.
