Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a goal to make India totally energy self-sufficient by 2047 when he announced the National Hydrogen Mission on Independence Day last year. The Netherlands said earlier this month that it will become a close ally of India in the sale of green hydrogen to Europe. Taking all of these factors into consideration, the special study examines the demand for green hydrogen, production realities, and export opportunities, as well as challenges:
Possibility of becoming a European green hydrogen export hub
Green hydrogen generation and consumption are still in their infancy across the planet. India is no different, but the way the Ukraine conflict has exacerbated Europe’s energy problems has provided a great opportunity for India.
In this perspective, the Netherlands’ plan is commendable, as it strengthens India’s potential as a center of green hydrogen exports for European nations seeking alternative energy sources.
Jamie stated that, if India so desires, the Netherlands may assist in the export of green hydrogen to Europe.
As a result, the Netherlands is significant in Europe
Because of its infrastructure and great geographical location for supplying green hydrogen to Europe, the Netherlands may become a stronger partner for it in Europe if India sells it.
The Netherlands is home to Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam, from which it is simple to travel to northern European nations such as Germany and Belgium.
However, the key question is whether green hydrogen will be shipped as ammonia or as a frozen gas. Singapore and Japan are now the only countries in the world that import green hydrogen.
The first step toward becoming a global hub
India has taken the first step toward becoming a global center for green hydrogen and its technology export.
Ohmium International has become the first company to supply electrolyzers to the United States through its Indian subsidiary.
Ohmium’s Bangalore plant, India’s first Green Hydrogen Electrolyzer Gigafactory, produced this electrolyzer.
India has assumed a leading role in the global push for green hydrogen. The price is now high, but it will decrease as production and demand rise, and the Green Hydrogen Mission, in conjunction with Make in India, may play a significant role internationally.
The government and private businesses both tighten their belts
PM Modi went ahead and underlined India’s resolve to address the global problem of global warming during the Conference of Parties, or CAP-26, held in Glasgow last November. A roadmap will be developed with input from the government and commercial sector.
All of the country’s main businessmen, Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani’s corporate firms, as well as the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and other good institutions, have big plans for green hydrogen generation.
Reliance Industries is investing Rs 600 billion in a green facility in Gujarat’s Jamnagar that would also create green hydrogen. Reliance will begin to use hydrogen instead of gasoline as a transportation fuel.
The Adani Group is also involved, having partnered with Maire Technimont to launch a green hydrogen project in India.
In Rajasthan, the ACME Group has taken the first step toward establishing a Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Project.
Larsen & Turbo has also announced a Rs 15 billion investment in green fuel. It will also produce electrolyzers and is constructing a green hydrogen plant at its Hazira facility.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country’s largest state-owned oil firm, is seeking to build a green hydrogen plant at its refinery in Mathura with a capacity of 160,000 barrels per day. By 2024, the objective is to convert at least 10% of all fuel consumption to green fuel. The business will also focus on producing green hydrogen at the Kochi International Airport’s solar power facility.
Last month, Indian Oil Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya stated that the company had a wind power project in Rajasthan. In Mathura, we are now focusing on producing 100% green hydrogen through electrolysis. IOC has issued a tender for 15 projects including hydrogen fuel cells.
GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited) is planning to build a 10-megawatt green hydrogen plant. She intends to purchase an electrolyzer for this purpose.
In Kutch, NTPC will build a massive 4.75 GW Green Hydrogen Plant. Another 5 MW plant has also been announced by the firm. At its Vindhyachal facility, NTPC is also conducting a trial project in this area.
In Leh-Ladakh, NTPC will also build green hydrogen pumps and operate five hydrogen buses. Expressions of interest for 10 hydrogen buses and automobiles have also been published by the corporation.
Green hydrogen will also be a focus for Bharat Petroleum Corporation. Solar Urja Nigam Limited will issue a tender for the construction of plants to produce Green Hydrogen in the nation using renewable energy sources.
The goal is to produce 50 lakh tonnes each year
By 2030, the Union Ministry of Power aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Apart from satisfying local fuel needs, the government wants to become a green hydrogen export hub.
Green hydrogen is made by splitting solar and wind-generated water into hydrogen and oxygen. As a result, it is fully carbon neutral.
India would establish distinct green hydrogen production zones, waive interstate energy transfer fees for a period of 25 years, and take the lead in connecting green hydrogen and ammonia producers to the power grid.
Energy experts think the government’s incentive program is a smart idea. According to Mayank Bansal, Chief Commercial Officer of Renew Power, the government’s concessions would assist lower the cost of producing green hydrogen in the country.
Green hydrogen production of 5 million tonnes per year would be over half of the EU objective.
India, with a population three times that of the European Union, has far lower per capita energy use than Europe. However, we are in those parts of the world where energy consumption is rapidly expanding.
The cost of producing green hydrogen is high
In India, the cost of producing green hydrogen is now prohibitively high. As a result, the government has made a significant decision to remove the fees associated with energy transfers between states.
Green hydrogen generators will be able to return any unused power to the grid.
As the Indian government prepares to make the use of green hydrogen essential in refineries and fertilizer companies, there are also plans to offer governmental financial help to electrolyzers.
According to research published by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India’s hydrogen consumption in 2020 would be 6 million tonnes per year. Numerous research has revealed that this area has a lot of promise.
By 2030, the cost of hydrogen is expected to have nearly halved. The need for hydrogen in the country is predicted to be nearly fivefold by 2050, reaching 28 million tonnes per year.
Green hydrogen’s application in refineries and fertilizer plants will steadily rise. The goal is to raise it to 10% in the first ten years, then to 25% in the next three to four years.
PM Modi has unveiled the Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make the country a hub for green hydrogen production and export while also creating jobs, according to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Even before the country’s hundred years of independence, he shared the ambition of having the country’s energy self-sufficient.
