New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the second edition of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024) via video message, reaffirming India’s unwavering commitment to tackling climate change and advancing green hydrogen as a transformative solution in the global energy landscape.
Highlighting India’s leadership in the renewable energy sector, Prime Minister Modi stated, “India is fully committed to building a cleaner, greener planet. We were the first among G20 nations to meet our Paris Agreement commitments on green energy, well ahead of schedule. While we continue to strengthen existing solutions, we are also focused on embracing new and innovative approaches. Green hydrogen is one such breakthrough, with the potential to decarbonize sectors like refineries, fertilizers, steel, and heavy-duty transportation.”
The Prime Minister further elaborated on India’s ambitions under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which was launched in 2023 to establish the country as a global hub for green hydrogen production, utilization, and export. He emphasized, “This mission will drive innovation, build infrastructure, stimulate industry growth, and attract significant investments in the green hydrogen sector.”
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Prahlad Venkatesh Joshi, also spoke at the event, shedding light on the government’s strategic initiatives. He underscored that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is on a path to becoming a global leader in green hydrogen. “The National Green Hydrogen Mission has the potential to attract ₹8 lakh crore in investments, generate 6 lakh jobs, and reduce reliance on imported natural gas and ammonia. This will result in savings of ₹1 lakh crore, while cutting carbon emissions by 5 MMT by 2030,” he remarked.
Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, also emphasized India’s ambitious targets for decarbonization. He stated, “India’s goal of producing 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030 is a critical step toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. This effort will require an investment of $100 billion and the development of 125 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity, significantly reducing our carbon footprint and generating import savings.”
Bhupinder S. Bhalla, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, spoke on India’s achievements in renewable energy and the ambitious goals of the NGHM. He highlighted the role of green hydrogen in sectors ranging from transportation to heavy industries and emphasized its potential to transform India into a global leader in sustainable energy.
The conference also featured a presentation titled “India’s Journey Towards a Green Hydrogen Economy,” showcasing India’s progress in this sector. Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, addressed the importance of innovation in green hydrogen research, stressing the need for continued R&D efforts to make this technology scalable and cost-effective.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). She remarked, “With abundant renewable resources and ambitious initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India is well-positioned to lead globally in this transformative era of clean energy.”
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in collaboration with other government bodies, including the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and the Department of Science and Technology, organized ICGH-2024. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), EY, and FICCI served as implementation, knowledge, and industry partners, respectively.
