'Time for action is here and now': PM Modi says India aims to be a global hub for Green Hydrogen production

He made this announcement at the International Conference on Green Hydrogen India 2024, organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

“The National Green Hydrogen Mission is giving an impetus to innovation, infrastructure, industry and investment. We are investing in cutting-edge research and development. Partnerships between industry and academia are being formed. Start-ups and entrepreneurs who are working in this domain are being encouraged,” he said.

“There is also a great potential for a green jobs eco-system to develop. To enable this, we are also working on skill development for our youth in this sector,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said the effects of climate change are being felt here and now.

“There is a growing realisation that climate change is not just a matter of the future. The impact of climate change is being felt here and now. The time for action is also here and now. Energy transition and sustainability have become central to global policy discourse,” he stressed.

“Friends, humanity has faced many challenges in the past. Each time, we overcame adversities through solutions that were collective and innovative. It is the same spirit of collective and innovative action that will guide us towards a sustainable future. We can achieve anything when we are together. Let us work to accelerate the development and deployment of green hydrogen,” PM Modi added.

PM Modi further said India is not complacent with its climate action achievements.

“We were the first among G20 nations to fulfill our Paris commitments on green energy. These commitments were fulfilled 9 years ahead of the target of 2030. India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity increased nearly 300% in the last 10 years.

"Our solar energy capacity increased over 3,000% in the same period. But we are not resting on these achievements. We remain focused on strengthening existing solutions,” he said.

Green hydrogen is becoming a valuable addition to the global energy mix, offering a way to decarbonize industries that are challenging to electrify, such as refineries, fertilizers, steel, and heavy-duty transportation.

It also provides a storage solution for excess renewable energy.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted that India has already launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023.