India, the world’s third-largest energy user, seeks to lower its carbon intensity by 45 percent and carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
It also plans to produce approximately 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year.
The country has made some encouraging strides, with both public and private sector companies announcing significant investments in green hydrogen production.
However, there is an air of reluctance on the ground, particularly in difficult-to-decarbonize domestic industries such as steel. The majority of Indian steelmakers have yet to commit to a transition to environmentally friendly hydrogen-based technologies.
The primary impediment is a lack of affordable green hydrogen capable of producing over 0.5 billion tons of steel per year without using fossil fuels by 2070. Net zero steel output would almost certainly need the industry to completely transition to hydrogen-based ironmaking and/or scrap-based steel manufacturing by 2070 or even later. Nonetheless, green hydrogen-powered steel manufacturing is anticipated to account for a sizable portion.
The state-owned IOC is the only refiner in the country that has begun construction of a commercial green hydrogen facility, possibly indicating that the government is serious about marketing the fuel in order to fulfill its 2070 net zero emissions objective.
Additionally, social acceptance may be a barrier in India’s transportation business. Transportation and consumer-related green hydrogen utilization may be some time away, given safety concerns. Inadequate infrastructure, such as hydrogen refueling stations, can further retard the adoption of green hydrogen. India currently has two hydrogen refueling stations, despite the fact that Delhi is encouraging automakers to develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Despite these obstacles, Hetal believes India is well positioned to develop a domestic hydrogen economy, given competitive renewable energy prices and a drive toward electrolyser capacity. India’s state-owned NTPC and BPCL, as well as private sector Reliance Industries, are all investigating environmentally friendly hydrogen production via electrolysers.
Meanwhile, the government is considering requiring refineries and fertiliser companies to acquire green hydrogen at a rate of 10% to 20% to 25%, according to power minister RK Singh. It is unknown what effect such a requirement would have on refineries and fertiliser factories, though it could have an effect on the use of their grey hydrogen-generating facilities.
However, Adani, an Indian private-sector conglomerate that recently established a subsidiary to engage in refineries, petrochemical complexes, specialty chemical units, and hydrogen and associated chemical plants, is optimistic about hydrogen’s long-term benefits for India.
