Minister Naik Urges Global, Domestic Investment in Green Hydrogen at CII Conclave

Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, emphasised the transformative potential of Green Hydrogen in securing India’s energy future.

As per reports, while speaking at the inaugural session of the CII International Business Conclave on Green Hydrogen, Naik called on global stakeholders and domestic industry leaders to ramp up investments in research, infrastructure, and innovation within the green hydrogen ecosystem.

“Green Hydrogen is more than just a fuel,  it’s a commitment to sustainable prosperity and the well-being of future generations,” Naik said. He underscored the role of the fuel in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing industrial competitiveness across multiple sectors.

The minister extended an open invitation to international companies, governments, and financing institutions to collaborate with India on green hydrogen-related initiatives, including R&D, trade partnerships, and infrastructure development. He also urged Indian industries to focus on scaling up manufacturing, developing human capital, and building green hydrogen infrastructure.

Highlighting the distributed nature of India's econom, powered by a robust MSME base and diverse industrial clusters, Naik said that localized models of green hydrogen adoption can foster regional demand and drive inclusive economic growth. "We are actively encouraging the development of Green Hydrogen corridors across the country," he added.

Naik also noted that under the SIGHT programme, tenders have been floated for 42,000 metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually for refineries and 7.2 lakh metric tonnes of green ammonia for fertilisers. These efforts are part of India’s broader strategy to become a global hub for green hydrogen.

He said India is forging international partnerships with the EU, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore to build shared frameworks for certification, storage, transport, and offtake agreements for green hydrogen.

Speaking at the event, New and Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said the government is focusing on four key pillars to develop the green hydrogen sector, regulation, incentives, standards, and collaboration with stakeholders. He also noted that the Ministry is working closely with industry to define what constitutes “Green Hydrogen.”

Sumant Sinha, Chairman of ReNew, called Green Hydrogen essential for India’s net-zero transition, estimating that the country will require around 40 million tonnes of it annually by 2070. He highlighted the need to replace 6 million tonnes of currently used Grey Hydrogen with its green counterpart.

However, Sinha flagged the high production cost of green hydrogen, currently around USD 4.5 per kg, compared to Grey Hydrogen’s cost of approximately USD 0.50. He advocated for targeted subsidies and long-term policy support, including GST rationalisation and demand creation, to make green hydrogen more economically viable.

The conclave marks a significant step in India's push to lead the global green hydrogen movement, aligning with its climate commitments and ambition to become a key player in the clean energy transition.