Business: New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi has invited proposals for pilot projects worth Rs 100 crore to encourage new technologies related to green hydrogen production. These projects will especially focus on advanced technologies like green hydrogen production from biomass. Minister Joshi made this announcement at the Third International Green Hydrogen Conference.

Such proposals are necessary to achieve green hydrogen goals
He informed that Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the agency implementing this initiative, will soon invite proposals from interested agencies and research institutes. Prahlad Joshi said that I am looking forward to such innovative proposals that can move us towards achieving our green hydrogen goals.

Work is being done on the development of indigenous technologies under the mission.
He said that under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), work is being done rapidly on the development of new and indigenous technologies in the country. The primary focus of the government is on solutions that make it possible to produce green hydrogen using biomass or waste materials. He also launched the logo of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Hydrogen production capacity target may slip to 2032
On the other hand, Energy Ministry Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that India’s target of 50 lakh metric tons (MMT) annual green hydrogen production capacity may now be shifted to 2032 instead of 2030. Sarangi said that we may be a little behind in achieving the target of 5 MMT by 2030, but will complete it by 2032. He said that the country will be able to achieve 3 MMT annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030.

This statement is important because under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023), India had set a target of 5 MMT annual production capacity by 2030. Sarangi further said that to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy capacity, India will have to add at least 50 GW of new capacity every year. At present, 160 GW capacity projects are in various stages in the country, while 40 GW projects are awaiting power purchase or sale agreements. He said that the focus of the ministry will be to rapidly advance these pending projects, so that India can meet its clean energy targets on time.