The Government of India has announced a ₹100-crore scheme to accelerate green hydrogen innovation, as Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the first Annual Green Hydrogen R&D Conference in the capital on Thursday.
Funding Snapshot
The scheme will provide grants of up to ₹5 crore per project for startups developing solutions in hydrogen production, storage, transport and utilisation. At the conference, 25 startups showcased technologies spanning electrolyser manufacturing, AI-driven optimisation, and biological hydrogen production.
Driving the National Mission
The initiative builds on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in 2023 with a ₹19,744-crore outlay. The mission rests on four pillars: policy support, demand creation, R&D, and enabling infrastructure. Joshi emphasised that the effort is not about “sharing ideas but turning research into practical solutions that can power industries, clean cities, and create lakhs of jobs.”
Progress So Far
Since its launch, NGHM has awarded 23 projects covering biomass-based hydrogen, safety, and industrial applications. Pilots are underway in ports, steel, and shipping, alongside hydrogen buses and refueling stations. India is also building dedicated hydrogen hubs at Kandla, Paradip and Tuticorin ports.
Market Outlook
By 2030, India aims to produce five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually, backed by 125 GW of renewable energy. The mission targets ₹8 lakh crore in investments, six lakh jobs, and a 50 million tonne reduction in carbon emissions each year.
With corporates like NTPC, Reliance and Indian Oil joining forces with startups, the ecosystem is poised to scale quickly. For entrepreneurs, this scheme signals a pivotal opportunity to align innovation with India’s clean energy ambitions.
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