India Set to Become Global Hub for Green Hydrogen Innovation: MoS MNRE Shripad Yesso Naik
India is betting on green hydrogen to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries, reduce import dependence, establish India as a key exporter in the emerging global hydrogen economy, stated Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik said at the first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference.
September 13, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
Addressing the valedictory session of the first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Naik called upon scientists, industry leaders, startups and young researchers to make India a global hub of green hydrogen innovation.
MNRE has already supported more than 200 R&D projects in renewable energy, fuel cells, hydrogen, and storage technologies. Dedicated funding, testing facilities, and incubation programmes have been created so that Indian researchers and innovators have the ecosystem to translate ideas into breakthrough solutions. “This very conference is a testimony to our collective resolve, to make India’s laboratories into launchpads, and our startups into global champions,” Naik said.
Over the two days, participants in the conference deliberated on crucial themes including India’s vision as an R&D and innovation leader in green hydrogen; cutting-edge production pathways such as electrolysis, thermochemical, and biological routes; challenges of storage, transport and fuel-cell applications; and the need to balance safety with scalability. They also discussed governance frameworks, prototyping and commercialization, infrastructure, testing facilities, and talent development as essential pillars of a strong R&D ecosystem.
Naik emphasised that research cannot remain confined to academic silos and must move seamlessly to pilots, prototypes, and commercial deployment to achieve scale and make hydrogen cost-competitive and accessible. “For our youth, I have a simple message: think beyond incremental change. Aspire to design disruptive solutions that can shape the world’s energy future,” he said, urging institutions to nurture interdisciplinary hubs where academia, industry and entrepreneurship converge.
The Minister emphasised that green hydrogen will power the steel, cement, fertilizer, mobility, and shipping sectors, help reduce import dependence, create high-value jobs, and establish India as a key exporter in the emerging global hydrogen economy. “At a time when countries are designing cross-border carbon regulations, India’s leadership in green hydrogen will ensure that our industries remain competitive and future-ready,” he added.
Mission Director, National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), Abhay Bhakre highlighted that green hydrogen is the fuel for the future and under the NGHM, concerted efforts are being made to position India as a global leader and export hub for green hydrogen. He informed that the Mission is receiving strong support from various state agencies, and over 140 standards have already been published to facilitate the growth of the sector.
Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Dr. Mohammad Rihan, underlined that green hydrogen will play an important role in managing the grid more efficiently as renewable energy capacity expands. He said NISE, as the implementing agency for the startup support programme under the Mission, will work to forge strong partnerships and drive innovation to help India move forward and become a global green hydrogen hub.
Akash Tripathi, Managing Director of SECI, said that India has a real opportunity to move forward rapidly in emerging technologies such as electrolysers and the broader hydrogen sector. He emphasised that in addition to providing startup funding, there is also a strong need to build robust mentoring support systems to guide innovators and entrepreneurs in this domain.
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