Green hydrogen mission gets Cabinet nod, initial outlay Rs 19,744 crore

Green hydrogen mission gets Cabinet nod, initial outlay Rs 19,744 crore

Subject : Environment

Context:

• With the aim to make India energy independent and decarbonise major sectors of the economy, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), with an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore.

More on the news:

• The target is to bring in an investment of Rs 8 lakh crore by 2030, and create over 6 lakh jobs.
• Nearly 50 MMT (million metric tonne) per annum of CO2 emissions is also expected to be averted with this by 2030.

About the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM):

• Launched on 15 Aug, 2021.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation.
• The mission seeks to promote the development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country by 2030.

Benefits of the Mission:

• The Mission will have wide ranging benefits:
  • creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives;
  • decarbonisation of industrial, mobility and energy sectors;
  • reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock;
  • development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities;
  • creation of employment opportunities; and
  • development of cutting-edge technologies.

Green Hydrogen

• Hydrogen, made by splitting water with an electrical process called electrolysis, can be used as a fuel.
• If the devices that do that, electrolysers, are powered by renewable energy, the product is called green hydrogen.
  • Fertiliser, refining and iron and steel units currently consume grey hydrogen, made through fossil fuels.
• India also plans to build electrolyser capacity of 60 gigawatts to 100 gigawatts to help produce green hydrogen.

Major Activities to be carried out under the Mission:

• Creating volumes and infrastructure
• Demonstrations in niche applications
• Goal-oriented Research & Development
• Facilitative policy support
• A robust framework for standards and regulations for hydrogen technologies

Types of Hydrogen Fuel:

• Grey Hydrogen:
  • Manufactured using Natural Gas without carbon sequestration
• Brown Hydrogen:
  • Manufactured using Coal without carbon sequestration.
• Blue Hydrogen: 
  • Manufactured using Natural Gas with carbon sequestration.
• Green Hydrogen: 
  • Manufactured using Renewable Energy.