According to Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh, India opposes expanding the concept of “green hydrogen” to include fuel derived from low-carbon energy sources as several Western nations have suggested during G20 meetings.

According to Singh, India, which is now in charge of rotating the G20 presidency, has recommended “harmonisation of the best available standards” to control trade in green hydrogen, which should only be created using renewable energy, as opposed to low carbon fuel.

“Why should nations that have been extolling the virtues of decarbonization and energy transition support low carbon? Either it’s clean or it’s not clean, “said he.

Fuel-grade hydrogen is produced by electrolysis plants that split water. Green hydrogen is employed when the energy used to run the plants is renewable.

Singh claimed that the Indian G20 chair had undertaken consultations with many nations and presented a draught definition that he thought was appropriate.

“The definition of green hydrogen must be agreed upon by all parties if the world is to decarbonize. Without standardisation, there won’t be any trade, “added he.

The proposed definition assumes that the entire production process, including the usage of necessary equipment, will result in some unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions.

According to a government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press, the plan calls for limiting the amount of CO2 equivalent to 1 kilogramme for every kilogramme of green hydrogen produced and requiring the energy source used to produce the hydrogen to be entirely renewable.

Countries all over the world are turning to green hydrogen as a solution to their energy-related climatic issues.

India said in January that it had approved a $2.11 billion incentive programme to promote green hydrogen to reduce emissions and establish itself as a significant player in the industry.

Next month’s G20 meeting is anticipated to include the topic once more.