MNRE Releases Over INR 679 Million to Kickstart Four Hydrogen Valley Clusters

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved the release of INR 679.5 million (approximately USD 7.8 million) as the first tranche of central financial assistance (CFA) to four Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVICs) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).

These Hydrogen Valleys are designated regions where green hydrogen is produced and utilized across various sectors including industry, energy, and mobility, forming integrated ecosystems to promote clean energy adoption.

The clusters receiving funding include CSIR-NCL in Pune, IIT Bhubaneswar, the Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) in Kerala, and IIT Jodhpur. Together, the total cost of the four projects stands at IINR 4.85 billion (approximately USD 56 million), with INR 3.15 billion (~USD 36 million) to be contributed by the lead institutions or industry partners. The remaining financial support comes from the government’s CFA program. Each HVIC will receive its funding through a dedicated company set up for the project, based on recommendations by the Project Appraisal Committee constituted by MNRE.

This funding approval follows the issuance of detailed guidelines for setting up hydrogen valley clusters and green hydrogen hubs in India. As per these guidelines, the Department of Science and Technology is responsible for issuing letters of award and formal approval once MNRE provides administrative clearance. The development of these hydrogen valleys is a part of the broader INR 4 billion (~USD 48.12 million) R&D roadmap unveiled by MNRE in July 2023, aimed at fostering indigenous technologies for the production, storage, transport, and application of green hydrogen.

In a push to accelerate innovation in this emerging sector, MNRE has also issued a second call for R&D proposals under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. This program focuses on enabling cost-effective solutions to support India’s ambition of becoming a global leader in green hydrogen and achieving long-term decarbonization and energy security targets.