MSMEs to Play Key Role in India’s Green Hydrogen Mission: MNRE Hosts National Workshop in New Delhi

New Delhi: In a bid to accelerate India’s clean energy transition, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) today organized a one-day National Workshop on “Opportunities for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain” in New Delhi. The event brought together over 300 delegates from across the energy and industrial ecosystem, including MSMEs, technology providers, policymakers, industry bodies, and international development partners.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, inaugurated the workshop and underlined the vital role of MSMEs in achieving the objectives of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission. “MSMEs are the backbone of India’s industrial landscape and will serve as innovation hubs driving our energy transition. Their involvement is essential in building a self-reliant and competitive green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030,” he said.

During the inaugural session, the Minister also launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI)—a key step towards creating a transparent, traceable, and credible market for green hydrogen in the country.

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE, shared progress under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and emphasized the need to build capacities, unlock finance, and deepen technology linkages. “Empowering MSMEs to enter the green hydrogen space is not just strategic, but necessary to ensure inclusive and decentralized growth,” he noted.

Technical Sessions Highlighted Key Themes

The workshop featured four technical sessions that explored practical strategies and challenges across the green hydrogen value chain:

1. Technology Collaboration for MSMEs:
   Discussions focused on R&D partnerships, localization of components like bipolar plates and electrolysers, and how knowledge institutions can support MSME-led innovation.
2. Business Opportunities in the Supply Chain:
   Experts highlighted scalable business models and integration strategies, advocating for formalized engagement of MSMEs in large-scale hydrogen projects.
3. Decentralized Hydrogen Production through Biomass:
   Presentations showcased how rural biomass can be used to produce hydrogen, offering sustainable livelihood models while promoting circular economy principles.
4. Catalyzing Investments in the Green Hydrogen Ecosystem:
   Financial institutions including the World Bank, KfW, IREDA, and IIFCL discussed the importance of de-risking tools, green credit lines, and blended finance to make investments more accessible to MSMEs.

MSMEs Show Strong Interest in Green Hydrogen Opportunities

MSMEs actively participated in the workshop, expressing interest in areas such as component manufacturing, O&M services, and rural hydrogen production. Participants called for clear demand signals, long-term policy stability, standardized protocols, and shared innovation platforms. The idea of forming Green Hydrogen Clusters to pool resources and enhance economies of scale also emerged as a key recommendation.

National Green Hydrogen Mission: India’s Clean Energy Vision

The Government of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to position the country as a global hub for the production, use, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. Key targets by 2030 include:

• 5 MMT/year green hydrogen production capacity
• 125 GW additional renewable energy capacity
• Over ₹8 lakh crore in investments
• Creation of 6 lakh jobs
• ₹1 lakh crore savings in fossil fuel imports
• 50 MMT annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

The workshop reaffirmed MNRE’s commitment to building an inclusive, tech-driven green hydrogen economy and highlighted the growing role of MSMEs in shaping India’s low-carbon future.