Green Hydrogen to Accelerate India’s Energy Transition from Importer to Exporter

The Indian government, along with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), successfully completed the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH) 2023 after three days of discussions. The conference took place in New Delhi and brought together important people and experts to talk about green hydrogen and how it can change India’s energy sources.

During the conference, more than 2700 delegates, 135 speakers, and experts participated in various sessions focused on green hydrogen. The goal was to encourage collaboration, share knowledge, and promote innovation in this field.

Hardeep Singh Puri, a government minister, spoke about the potential of green hydrogen for India. He said that green hydrogen can help India become an exporter of energy instead of an importer. He mentioned that India has a high demand for green hydrogen, has the capability to produce and store it, and can become a hub for this eco-friendly fuel. Puri also believed that green hydrogen, along with other green fuels, can reduce India’s energy import costs and increase its export earnings.

Amitabh Kant, a representative of India in the G20 group, talked about India’s potential as a global exporter of green hydrogen and energy. He called for efforts to reduce the cost of green hydrogen and praised oil companies and refineries for leading the transition to this clean fuel. He also encouraged other sectors like cement and steel to follow their lead.

Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood emphasized the importance of international collaboration in the green hydrogen field. He mentioned that many countries, including India, have plans for green hydrogen, showing the global demand for this clean fuel. He stressed the need for India to assess its specific needs and develop infrastructure to support the widespread use of green hydrogen in different sectors.

Bhupinder Bhalla, a government secretary, expressed gratitude to all participants for their contributions to the conference’s success. He recognized the potential of green hydrogen in transforming India’s energy sources and stressed the importance of international collaboration.

He believed that the conference and the Green Hydrogen Mission will lay the foundation for research, pilot projects, and favorable policies to promote sustainable growth and expedite the transition to clean and green energy.

Vinit Mittal, the chair of the CII Task-force on Green Hydrogen, thanked the Indian government for guiding the private sector and expressed confidence in India’s ability to achieve energy self-reliance through investments in the green hydrogen sector. He acknowledged the government’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions and promoting green growth, stating that green hydrogen is the future.

Mittal assured that the private sector is committed to meeting the expectations of the Prime Minister Modi and contributing to India’s green growth agenda. The conference and the associated mission have set a shared vision to accelerate the transition to a future powered by clean and green energy.