BENGALURU, Sept 19: NITI Aayog Chairman V. K. Saraswat today announced that the Government of India has launched an ambitious National Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of Rs 19,200 crore to accelerate the country’s shift to clean energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
He said the initiative will position India as a global hub for hydrogen production, storage and utilisation, while opening up new opportunities for investment and innovation.
Saraswat explained that the mission aims to produce green hydrogen – generated through electrolysis using renewable energy – and integrate it across industries, transport, power generation and other key sectors.
“This will strengthen India’s energy security, support decarbonisation efforts and create largescale employment in the clean energy ecosystem,” he said.
He noted that the programme encourages the setting up of domestic electrolyser manufacturing units, green hydrogen plants and fuel cell production facilities, with financial incentives and subsidies for eligible projects.
Several companies have already begun producing hydrogen by importing electrolysers, while others are using solar and grid power to generate green hydrogen, he added.
Highlighting one of the mission’s cornerstones, Saraswat said three Hydrogen Valley projects have been launched in challenge mode to attract industrial participation. These will be developed in phases with capacities of 50 MW, 100 MW and 500 MW and will come up in different regions of the country to demonstrate a complete hydrogen ecosystem – from production and storage to end-use applications.
He further said that the government is promoting the adoption of fuel cell technology and hydrogen-powered vehicles, with subsidies available for manufacturers investing in this segment.
“The hydrogen economy will complement electric mobility and help reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors,” he observed.
On storage technology, Saraswat underlined that research is progressing on high-pressure solutions, including cylinders capable of holding hydrogen at 350 bar and 700 bar.
“Three to four industries have already started producing such advanced storage systems, which will be vital for scaling up hydrogen use safely,” he said.
Calling the National Hydrogen Mission a transformative step, Saraswat stressed that it will not only build self-reliance in green fuels but also significantly advance India’s net-zero targets by lowering greenhouse gas emissions in sectors such as steel, cement, refining and heavy transport.
“With this mission, India is poised to emerge as a leader in hydrogen technologies, contributing to sustainable growth and global climate goals,” he added.
(UNI)
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