The Cabinet has given its go-ahead to the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay of INR 19,744 crore.
Of this, INR 17,490 crore is for the SIGHT (strategic interventions for green hydrogen transition) programme, INR 1,466 crore for pilot projects, INR 400 crore for R&D, and INR 388 crore towards other components.
A press release from the Cabinet states that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation of the components.
An enabling policy framework will be developed to support establishment of a green hydrogen ecosystem. Further, a public-private partnership framework for R&D (strategic hydrogen innovation partnership) 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.
All the ministries concerned along with departments, agencies and institutions of the Central and State Governments will undertake focused and coordinated steps to ensure successful achievement of the Mission.
The Mission is likely to result in development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (million tonnes) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country while the country will see over INR 8 lakh crore in total investments.
Additionally, it will enable creation of over six lakh jobs with cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over INR 1 lakh crore and abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2023.
The release adds that under the SIGHT programme, two distinct financial incentive mechanisms – targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and production of green hydrogen – will be provided under the Mission.
Pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways will also be supported. Regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or use of hydrogen will be identified and developed as green hydrogen hubs.
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