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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday formally announced the National Hydrogen Mission, putting a truly zero-carbon fuel – ‘green hydrogen’ – at the heart of India’s energy security as well as climate action and assuring investors of policy support. Setting the tone for rapid energy transition in his Independence Day speech, PM Modi set a 2047 deadline for becoming self-reliant in energy through a mix of electric mobility, 20% ethanol-blending of petrol and expanding city gas networks to raise the share of less-polluting natural gas in India’s energy basket. "For India to progress, for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)’, energy independence is necessary. India has to take a pledge that it will be energy independent by the year we celebrate the 100th year of Independence," PM Modi said in his address to the nation. "Green hydrogen will give India a quantum jump in achieving its climate targets," PM Modi said, unveiling his vision of turning India into a global green hydrogen production and export hub. He said faster transition to new-age fuels is needed to reduce the country’s dependence on energy imports entailing annual spending of Rs 12 lakh crore, or five times the current health budget. Currently all hydrogen consumed in India is extracted from fossil fuels, which emit CO2. Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysing water using electricity from renewable sources and expected to emerge as a $12-13 trillion global industry by 2050. "The Prime Minister’s initiative can help the industry build a domestic green hydrogen ecosystem worth $2-3 trillion in 20-25 years," Manoj K Upadhyay, chairman of solar player ACME Group, said. The intent for a national hydrogen mission was announced in Budget 2021. Since then, Reliance Industries Ltd, IndianOil, JSW Energy and NTPC have announced green hydrogen forays. NTPC has floated a tender for hydrogen blending of CNG. Renewable energy minister RK Singh said graded use of green hydrogen is to be made mandatory for refineries and fertiliser units to create a market. It will be expanded to other industries gradually. Energy, either in terms of access or transition, has been one of the leitmotifs of PM Modi’s I-Day speeches since taking over in 2014. The focus has so far been on access. Beginning with village and household electrification as well as providing clean cooking fuel to the poor, the focus of his discourse progressed to renewables. The hydrogen mission shifts the focus on new-age solutions, building upon the 100 gigawatts green energy capacity achieved recently. Source link Read the full article