National Green Hydrogen Mission Approved by Union Cabinet Chaired by PM Modi

Q: What is National Green Hydrogen Mission?

National Green Hydrogen Mission is a government initiative with the goal of developing a green hydrogen production capacity of at least five million metric tonnes (mmt) and an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.

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National Green Hydrogen Mission UPSC Relevance

National Green Hydrogen Mission: It is an initiative of the government to promote sustainable energy sources in the country using green Hydrogen as fuel.

National Green Hydrogen Mission 2023 is also important for UPSC Prelims 2023 Exam and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- Governance, Administration and Challenges- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.)

National Green Hydrogen Mission in News

Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved National Green Hydrogen Mission.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

About: National Green Hydrogen Mission 2023 was launched with the goal of developing a green hydrogen production capacity of at least five million metric tonnes (mmt) and an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.
Associated Ministry: National Green Hydrogen Mission will be implemented under overall supervision and guidance of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Funding: The initial outlay for the National Green Hydrogen Mission will be Rs.19,744 crore, including an outlay of-
- 17,490 crore for the SIGHT programme,
- 1,466 crore for pilot projects,
- 400 crore for R&D, and
- 388 crore towards other Mission components.

Green hydrogen- Definition, India’s Current Production and Key Advantages

National Green Hydrogen Mission Objectives

The Mission will result in the following likely outcomes by 2030:

Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country
Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments
Creation of over Six lakh jobs
Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. One lakh crore
Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions

Greener Roads, Safer Roads | The Hindu Editorial Analysis for UPSC

National Green Hydrogen Mission Benefits

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.
Facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen.

Sustainable and Green Tourism

National Green Hydrogen Mission Implementation

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy will be responsible for overall coordination and implementation of the Mission.
- MNRE will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation of the respective components.
All concerned Ministries, Departments, agencies and institutions of the Central and State Governments will undertake focussed and coordinated steps to ensure successful achievement of the Mission objectives.
An enabling policy framework will be developed to support establishment of Green Hydrogen ecosystem.
A robust Standards and Regulations framework will be also developed.
Further, a public-private partnership framework for R&D (Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership – SHIP) will be facilitated under the Mission; R&D projects will be goal-oriented, time bound, and suitably scaled up to develop globally competitive technologies.
A coordinated skill development programme will also be undertaken under the Mission.
Under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT), two distinct financial incentive mechanisms – targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and production of Green Hydrogen – will be provided under the Mission.
The Mission will also support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways.
Regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or utilization of Hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.

The Editorial Analysis: Going Green

About Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic and highly combustible gaseous substance.
Hydrogen is the lightest, simplest and most abundant member of the family of chemical elements in the universe.

What is Green hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind or hydel power.
The ‘green’ depends on how the electricity is generated to obtain the hydrogen, which does not emit greenhouse gas when burned.

How Green hydrogen is different from Grey Hydrogen and Blue Hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind or hydel power.
Grey hydrogen is generated through fossil fuels such as coal and gas and currently accounts for 95% of the total production in South Asia.
Blue hydrogen, too, is produced using electricity generated by burning fossil fuels but with technologies to prevent the carbon released in the process from entering the atmosphere.

Advantages of Green hydrogen

Reliable source of energy: The intermittent nature of renewable energy, especially wind, leads to grid instability.
- Green hydrogen can be stored for long periods of time. The stored hydrogen can be used to produce electricity using fuel cells.
Commercialization of Oxygen produced: Experts say the oxygen, produced as a by-product, can also be monetised by using it for industrial and medical applications or for enriching the environment.
- According to estimates, 8 kg of oxygen is produced per 1 kg of hydrogen.
Investment opportunities: The possibilities of hydrogen have made many countries pledge investments with Portugal having unveiled a national hydrogen strategy worth $7.7 billion in May.
Huge Renewable Energy Markets: Renewable developers see green hydrogen as an emerging market and some have targeted the transport sector, although electric vehicles have begun to catch the imagination of consumers today.

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National Green Hydrogen Mission FAQs

What is National Green Hydrogen Mission?

Ans. National Green Hydrogen Mission is a government initiative with the goal of developing a green hydrogen production capacity of at least five million metric tonnes (mmt) and an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.