Is India’s Energy Future on the Path to Self-Sufficiency?

Synopsis
India is on a transformative journey towards energy self-sufficiency, marked by substantial investments and innovations in green hydrogen. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasizes the potential of sustainable energy in reshaping the nation's energy landscape. Discover how India's initiatives are setting the stage for a greener and more independent energy future.
Key Takeaways
- India is focusing on energy self-sufficiency.
- Green hydrogen initiatives are pivotal for sustainable energy.
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission is set to invest $2.4 billion.
- India aims for 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
- Over 600,000 jobs are expected in the green hydrogen sector.
New Delhi, May 27 (NationPress) The future of India’s energy landscape is gradually evolving, aiming for self-sufficiency, stated the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Tuesday.
In a post shared on the X social media platform, the Minister indicated that forecasting the peak of India’s oil demand remains uncertain.
“Currently, we import energy worth $150 billion annually. A decline in global green hydrogen prices could catalyze a sustainable energy revolution,” the minister elaborated.
Under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this transformative phase is poised to emerge, promising significant advancements for India, Minister Puri emphasized.
India has achieved notable progress in green hydrogen initiatives, with an annual production capacity of 862,000 tonnes allocated to 19 companies, and a 3,000 MW annual electrolyser manufacturing capacity granted to 15 firms.
Moreover, pilot projects have been initiated across the steel, mobility, and shipping sectors. The country has successfully installed over 223 GW of renewable energy, comprising 108 GW from solar and 51 GW from wind, positioning India among the globe's fastest-growing renewable energy markets.
To facilitate this transition, the Government launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023, with an initial budget of $2.4 billion.
This mission outlines a detailed roadmap to identify and stimulate demand in various sectors, provide production incentives for establishing domestic capacity, target 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen production by 2030, prevent nearly 50 MMT of CO2 emissions yearly, attract approximately $100 billion in investments, and generate over 600,000 jobs.
Recently, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, unveiled the Green Hydrogen Certification scheme in India, marking a critical step towards establishing a robust framework for certifying green hydrogen production while ensuring transparency, traceability, and market integrity.