On September 5, 2023, a day-long conference titled ‘Green Hydrogen Pilots in India’ was convened in New Delhi in preparation for the 18th G20 Summit. The conference was a platform to showcase a range of green hydrogen pilot projects undertaken by both public and private sector companies in India. NTPC Ltd. hosted the event, where pioneering and innovative pilot projects in the field of green hydrogen technology were presented.
K. Singh, the union minister for power and new and renewable energy, emphasised the need for India to take effective measures to reduce its substantial energy import bills. He highlighted the critical moment India finds itself in, with a rapidly growing economy expected to maintain a 7%-8% growth rate for the next 2-3 decades, leading to substantial energy demands. In August 2023, India’s power demand had surged by 21% compared to the previous year, indicating the nation’s remarkable growth.
The minister also stated that India has the potential to become one of the world’s largest producers of green hydrogen due to significant investments and progress in renewable energy. India’s cost of producing renewable energy and green hydrogen is expected to be among the most competitive globally.
As reported by the Press Information Bureau, the conference provided participants with the opportunity to witness innovative pilot projects and gain insights into the future of clean energy. Some of the showcased green hydrogen pilots included presentations on green hydrogen blending in petroleum and natural gas by NTPC, green hydrogen mobility by NTPC, FCEV and H2ICE Vehicles by Ashok Leyland, green shipping initiatives by Cochin Shipyard, microgrid and mobility by NHPC, mobility and blending using AEM electrolysers by Oil India, green hydrogen-based microgrid and other initiatives by H2E, green ammonia plant in Bikaner by ACME, green methanol and green ethanol by NTPC; making of DRI steel with green hydrogen by the ministry of steel, hydrogen-based microgrid initiatives by THDC, green hydrogen for use in welding procedures at Hazira by L&T, green hydrogen using off-grid solar by Hygenco, and solar to direct hydrogen by SoHHytec.
