At the CII International Business Conclave on Green Hydrogen, Shri Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary of the New, Emerging, and Strategic Technologies (NEST) Division at the Ministry of External Affairs, positioned India not merely as a stakeholder but as a frontrunner in the emerging global green hydrogen economy. Addressing an audience comprising industry leaders, international delegates, and policy experts, he articulated India’s multifaceted vision for green hydrogen, rooted in innovation, infrastructure, and international collaboration.
Framing the session as not just timely but strategic, he acknowledged its goal of “positioning India as a global hub for green hydrogen exports,” calling it a space where “we, in the Ministry of External Affairs, work closely and have much to gain by listening to the insights shared here today.”
Shri Singhvi set the context by describing the global energy transition as an urgent imperative, not a distant aspiration. “The global shift toward clean energy is no longer an abstract ambition but a pressing necessity,” he said. “It is being driven by the climate crisis, the geopolitics of energy security, and the economic imperative to decarbonise sectors such as industry, transport, and power.”
In this transformation, green hydrogen stands out not merely as a technological advancement but as a strategic lever to reshape the global energy architecture. Citing projections that global hydrogen demand will increase fivefold by 2050, he noted, “This is not just a scientific curiosity—it’s a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity.” He also stressed that international trade in green hydrogen and its derivatives “is not just inevitable, but essential,” especially given the asymmetries in production capacities and demand across regions.
India, he affirmed, is seizing this moment through bold policy and proactive implementation. “We launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission to drive innovation, investment, and global leadership in this sector,” he said, outlining six major developments that signal the country’s fast-evolving leadership.
He highlighted that cumulative project announcements from Indian states now exceed 8 million metric tonnes per year, far surpassing the Mission’s original target of 5 MMT by 2030. “This is a strong vote of confidence in India’s green hydrogen roadmap,” he asserted.
Additionally, states have pledged over USD 60 billion in investments—“26 times the budgetary outlay of the Mission,” Singhvi emphasised—fueling a nationwide surge in project development. Manufacturing is also on the rise, with India becoming a critical node in the global green hydrogen supply chain. Electrolyser gigafactories, like the 2 GW plant in Karnataka and the Greenco-John Cockerill joint venture in Andhra Pradesh, are evidence of this industrial momentum.
“Global companies like Siemens, Hyundai, and Plug Power are now tapping into India’s engineering talent,” Singhvi said, noting the significance of this trust in Indian capabilities. “This reinforces our positioning as a green hydrogen production and talent hub.”
On the domestic front, demand for hydrogen—currently at 6 to 7.5 million metric tons (MMT) annually—is expected to double in the next decade, driven by emerging applications in green steel, heavy transport, and chemicals. This robust domestic market, Singhvi argued, provides a firm foundation for both scale and export.
But India’s ambitions are far from inward-looking. “We are forging strong international partnerships to reinforce our leadership,” he said, pointing to agreements with Germany, Denmark, Japan, and the EU. Notably, under the Horizon Europe programme, India and the EU have committed €60 million in joint R&D, including work on renewable hydrogen technologies.
Complementing policy and partnerships is infrastructure. Indian ports like Kandla, Paradeep, and Tuticorin are being developed as hydrogen export terminals. Corridor planning for green ammonia and green methanol is underway. Private players such as AM Green and ReNew Power are entering global collaborations, including with the Port of Rotterdam and Select Energy, to build cross-border supply chains.
Crucially, India’s competitive advantage lies in its ultra-low renewable energy tariffs, which, as Singhvi noted, “give us a decisive edge, considering electricity accounts for up to 70% of green hydrogen production costs.” This is underpinned by India’s national electricity grid—“one of the largest and most synchronised in the world,” enabling reliable and congestion-free transmission.
He envisioned India as a natural anchor for green hydrogen corridors connecting South Asia, the Gulf, Africa, Europe, and beyond. However, Singhvi emphasised that India’s role extends beyond commerce. “Our vision is not just to become a global production and export hub, but to be a trusted, responsible partner in shaping the global hydrogen economy.”
This vision includes advocating for common international standards, mutual certification recognition, and interoperable infrastructure. “These are crucial steps,” he said, “to ensure that hydrogen produced in India can reliably power industries in Europe, fuel cells in Japan, and shipping fleets across ASEAN and Africa.”
But to bring this ambitious agenda to life, he stressed the need for deeper collaborations. “We must expand joint ventures, co-financed infrastructure, cross-border R&D platforms, and blended financing models,” he urged.
Singhvi also offered a compelling view of India’s commitment. “India’s hydrogen journey is not just a national endeavour; it is a global offering. In developing an export-oriented hydrogen economy, we aim to advance both climate objectives and economic growth—within our borders and beyond.”
Calling on the international community to seize this moment of opportunity, he concluded, “Let us build hydrogen partnerships that are inclusive, reliable, and transformative. Together, we can usher in a new era where energy is not only clean, but also collaborative.”
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