India Transitioning Towards Green Hydrogen: An Ultimate Solution for Combating Climate Change

By Shrikant Panda

We are all aware of the fact that the entire creation is heavily dependent on water and it’s made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. In order to save our planet we need to encourage renewable source of energy to lessen pollution in our environment.

 Our country is also gearing up to augment the production of green hydrogen. In a simple language green hydrogen is achieved through a process of electrolysis powered by renewable energies such as wind or solar. Electrolysis involves using an electrical current to break down the water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen by electrodes. If green energy production gathers momentum in the country then we can combat climate change and air pollution. Green Hydrogen is expected to play a substantial role towards achieving the crisis of climate change.

It’s worth mentioning here that now India is investing 12 lakh crore of Rupees in generating power in the country and more than half of these investments are being done on petrol, diesel and coal which emits carbon dioxide into the air resulting environment gets warmer and we experience disturbance in weather pattern. If we continue to emphasize on enhancing the production of green hydrogen then our dependence on fossil fuel will be reduced considerably and in the process we can contain global warming.

Now Government has constituted National Hydrogen Mission to enhance the production of green hydrogen and for this effect, cabinet has already approved the project in 2023. The basic objective of this mission is to reinforce green hydrogen to at least five million metric ton by the year 2030 and in order to reach the target,  government has planning to invest 8 lakh crore of rupees and can create 6 lakh employment opportunities in the country. If this mission was implemented meticulously then our dependence on fossil fuel would be reduced and country could gain 1 lakh crore of rupees. Green hydrogen has many advantages as deposit of GHG can be curtailed significantly.

India can be the leader in producing green hydrogen in the planet and it can export it to other countries resulting many big companies from India can swell foreign currencies for the country. Mission envisaged that India will need to enhance 60 to 100 Gigawat electrolyser power to make this project successful. This mission has mega achievement as all the vehicles including transportation system instead of depending on fossil fuel will run through green hydrogen which will mitigate the climate change crisis in the country and we will be a trailblazer in this new field. Areas in which green hydrogen will have most production will be clubbed under Green Hub, it’s understood that 400 crore of rupees have been earmarked for this gargantuan project during 2025-2026. It’s hoped that initially two such hubs will be created and instead of coal, green energy will be encouraged and propagated in the phased manner. If this becomes a reality then Green energy adoption will significantly reduce emissions and improve air quality, leading to a healthier population.