India has significantly raised its clean energy ambitions by upgrading the National Green Hydrogen Mission, setting a new target of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. Achieving this milestone will require an estimated 125 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity, alongside investments exceeding Rs 8 lakh crore, the creation of more than six lakh jobs, and an annual reduction of nearly 50 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Officials estimate this could save India over Rs 1 lakh crore each year in fossil fuel imports.
Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis powered entirely by renewable energy. Under India’s standards, hydrogen qualifies as “green” only if its production results in fewer than 2 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of hydrogen. Biomass-based hydrogen will also be permitted if it meets the same emissions threshold.
Launched in January 2023 with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore through FY2030, the mission includes significant support under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) scheme. This programme provides incentives for domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production, supplemented by funding for pilot projects, R&D, and ecosystem development. The mission stands on four pillars: policy and regulation, demand creation, innovation, and supporting infrastructure.
To build a robust hydrogen value chain, the government has designated Deendayal Port, V. O. Chidambaranar Port, and Paradip Port as national Green Hydrogen Hubs. These hubs will support production, storage, consumption, and exports. India has also launched a Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme to track the carbon intensity of each kilogram of hydrogen produced.
Pilot initiatives are advancing across multiple industrial sectors. In fertilisers, a major auction recently concluded for the procurement of green ammonia for public-sector units. In petroleum refining, work is underway to transition from fossil-derived to green hydrogen. The steel industry is testing green hydrogen in iron reduction processes through five pilot projects.
The mobility sector is also progressing, with pilot projects deploying 37 hydrogen-powered vehicles and nine refuelling stations across ten routes. In maritime operations, new green hydrogen and green methanol facilities have been commissioned at V. O. Chidambaranar and Deendayal ports. In November 2024, NTPC launched a green hydrogen mobility project in Leh, deploying five hydrogen buses and setting up a refuelling station — a move expected to cut around 350 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
To encourage investment, the government has introduced supportive measures such as a waiver of interstate transmission charges for renewable energy used in hydrogen production and guaranteed open access within a fixed timeframe. Skill development programmes are also expanding, with more than 5,600 trainees certified in hydrogen-related fields.
International cooperation is widening as well. India participated for the first time in the 2024 World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam with an India Pavilion. Collaborative efforts with the EU, UK, Germany, and Singapore now cover standards, regulations, market design, and the development of export-oriented hydrogen hubs.
Green hydrogen has the potential to become a key driver of India’s industrial transformation. Meeting the 2030 targets will require rapid scale-up of electrolyser manufacturing, robust supply chain development, and stringent safety and certification systems. The next five years will be critical in determining whether India can translate policy ambition into large-scale commercial success — and emerge as a major global supplier in the hydrogen economy.