As India charts a bold course toward energy independence and climate responsibility, green hydrogen has emerged as the cornerstone of this transition. Speaking at the CII International Business Conclave on Green Hydrogen in New Delhi, Mr. Vineet Mittal, Chairman of Avaada Group, called for urgency, vision, and collaboration in accelerating India’s green hydrogen ambitions.
The Strategic Imperative
India’s reliance on imported energy is not just an economic challenge but a strategic vulnerability. “Over 80% of our energy needs are met through imports,” Mr. Mittal emphasised. “Each time we model a project for a foreign investor, we account for a 3% annual currency depreciation — driven in large part by this dependency.”
This reality, he argued, underscores the urgency of embracing green hydrogen and its derivatives, such as green ammonia and green methanol, which he referred to as “the cornerstones of energy independence and, ultimately, Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
From Pilot to Possibility
Citing real-world progress, Mr. Mittal spoke of a NITI Aayog-supported pilot project in Tinsukiya, Assam, where methanol is being blended with petrol and used successfully in vehicles. “The Indian Institute of Science has developed an internal combustion engine that runs 100% on green methanol,” he shared.
He contrasted this with the challenges around battery-based mobility, noting India’s limited lithium reserves. “Green fuels, created using our own abundant solar, wind, and water resources, offer a homegrown and scalable solution.”
In a powerful metaphor, he added: “Green hydrogen is our Sanjeevani Booti — a miracle lifeline for India’s future.”
Mind the Gap: From Ambition to Infrastructure
While commending the government’s target of 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, Mr. Mittal was candid about the current status. “We don’t even have the first million-tonne plant under construction,” he noted.
Translating this target, he explained, means producing 30 million tonnes of green ammonia or green methanol. That, in turn, would require over 180 GW of renewable energy capacity and massive transmission infrastructure, most of which remains undeveloped.
“The primary bottleneck,” he asserted, “is not technology — it’s demand creation.”
The Policy Push India Needs
To unlock large-scale investments, Mr. Mittal called for mandates on high-emission sectors and a clear offtake roadmap. “Unless we create a predictable pathway, capital expenditure will stall,” he warned.
Drawing a parallel with India’s ethanol blending mandate, he proposed a 15–20% blending requirement for green methanol in transportation fuels. Such mandates, he said, would trigger offtake agreements and investor confidence.
“Let us remember — every global conflict, whether in Ukraine, Iran, or the Middle East, affects India’s markets and currency. It’s time we shield ourselves from external energy shocks.”
A Stable, Predictable Fuel Future
One of green fuels’ most compelling advantages is price stability. “With long-term power purchase agreements, we can fix energy prices for up to 25 years — an advantage no other fuel source provides,” he said.
He urged the government to replicate the early support given to the solar and wind sectors. “If we can get similar support for green hydrogen and ammonia — especially through initial government offtake — these fuels will soon become more competitive than fossil-based alternatives.”
Becoming the Transition
He concluded with a powerful call to action: “Friends, let us not just talk about energy transition — let us become the transition.”
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