Cabinet Approves National Green Hydrogen Mission

Context

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved India’s Rs 20,000 cr National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).  

National Green Hydrogen Mission (NHM)

• Genesis: 
  • NGHM is a part of National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) which was announced by the finance minister in the Union Budget 2021-22.
  • The Prime Minister of India also announced the National Hydrogen Mission on India’s 75th Independence Day. 

• Objectives: 
  • To make India a global hub for the production and export of green hydrogen.
  • To harness green hydrogen energy to fulfill India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• Nodal Ministry: 
  • The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation of the respective components.
• Key Components:
  • The NGHM will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen.  
  • The Mission will also support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways.  
  • An enabling policy framework will be developed to support establishment of the Green Hydrogen ecosystem. 
  • A public-private partnership framework for R&D will be facilitated under the Mission. R&D projects will be goal-oriented, time bound, and suitably scaled up to develop globally competitive technologies.  

Significance/Intended outcomes of the NGHM by 2030

• RE Capacity Enhancement: Development of green  hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum.
• An associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country
• Investment boost
• Employment generation
• Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports.
• GHG Emission Reduction: Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions and help government in achievement the commitments made at COP 26

What is Hydrogen?

• About:
  • Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. 
  • Hydrogen is the lightest element and the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, constituting roughly 75% of all normal matter.
  • It is colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly combustible.
  • Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel burned with oxygen. It can be used in fuel cells or internal combustion engines and as a fuel for spacecraft propulsion.
• Extraction of Hydrogen:
  • Hydrogen exists in combination with other elements. 
  • Hence, for using it as a source of energy, it has to be extracted from naturally occurring compounds like water (which is a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). 
  • The sources and processes by which hydrogen is derived are categorised by different colours.

Advantages of Green Hydrogen

• Creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives
• Decarbonisation of industrial, mobility and energy sectors
• Self Reliance: Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock
• Make in India, for India: Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities
• Creation of employment opportunities
• Development of cutting-edge technologies

Possible Challenges in harnessing Green Hydrogen

• Lack of fuel station infrastructure: India will need to compete with around 500 operational hydrogen stations in the world today which are mostly in Europe, followed by Japan and South Korea.
• Energy-intensive nature of Hydrogen generation process:
  • The technology is in an infant stage and the energy requirement for splitting water or Methane is high. Besides, the whole process is costly at present.
• High R&D requirement for the newer technology for making the process cheap and operational and scalable. 
• Multiplicity of regulatory authorities: Involvement of multiple Ministries and Departments causes red tape in government functioning.
• Risks associated with the transportation of hydrogen: Hydrogen in gaseous form is highly inflammable and difficult to transport, thereby making safety a primary concern.

Way Forward

• NHM will ensure integration of India’s clean energy supply chains with that of the world
• Inter Ministerial and departmental coordination necessary for the success of NHM
• NHM will ensure realization of the goal of making India carbon neutral and global hub of clean hydrogen energy and will have multiplier effects on the $5 trillion economy.

Source: IE