Green hydrogen initiatives: Is India overlooking key challenges?

By NS Venkataraman*

As nations worldwide grapple with the urgent need to minimize or completely phase out fossil fuels—specifically crude oil and coal—to combat the release of harmful greenhouse gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, there has been a significant global momentum towards promoting eco-friendly green hydrogen production. This strategy aligns with the pressing environmental imperatives of our time.

India is considered by some sections as a proactive player in this arena, implementing a variety of measures to enhance green hydrogen production and positioning itself as a key contributor to these sustainability efforts. They site the Indian government's Strategic Intervention for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme as a significant step for the advancement of green hydrogen initiatives.

India's National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030, backed by an allocation of ₹12,500 crore in incentives. To achieve this goal, India plans to develop a substantial electrolyzer manufacturing capacity of 15,000 MW, requiring an investment of over ₹40,000 crore. About 15 companies are currently in the planning stages to develop this capacity. Reportedly, several green hydrogen projects are now in either advanced implementation phases or in the planning stages, taking advantage of government incentives.

The Indian government’s initiatives appear to have attracted interest from international firms. For instance, U.S.-based Ohmium has launched a 2,000 MW plant in India and intends to establish a new electrolyzer and green hydrogen facility in Tamil Nadu with an investment of approximately ₹400 crore.

Similarly, A M Green Ammonia B V has finalized plans for a 5 million metric ton green hydrogen project in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, aimed for completion by 2030, while Singapore's Sembcorp Industries has announced a green ammonia plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, with a projected capacity of 200,010 metric tons per year, representing an investment of ₹36,388 crore.

Identifying weak links

Despite the enthusiasm from governments and industry players about green hydrogen, there are critical weaknesses in the development chain that warrant attention before embarking on large-scale projects. It’s easy to overlook these gaps amid the flurry of announcements regarding investments and future capacities.

One of the main concerns is the production cost of green hydrogen, which is currently significantly higher than that of grey hydrogen produced from fossil fuels. Presently, green hydrogen generated through water electrolysis costs around $5 to $6 per kilogram, compared to approximately $2 for grey hydrogen.

Reducing electrolyzer costs and improving their efficiency—much of which is still in developmental stages—will be crucial in making green hydrogen competitive. Additionally, producing green hydrogen demands renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. While the cost of renewable energy has decreased, questions remain about its reliability and consistency.

Given uncertainties about viability and affordability of green hydrogen production, one wonders if we are putting the cart before the horse

Solar and wind energy production is subject to seasonal variations, and their capacity utilization averages only about 20%. This unpredictability raises concerns about whether sufficient renewable energy can be generated to meet the demands of burgeoning green hydrogen initiatives.

Current global demand for grey hydrogen stands at around 96 million metric tons per year, and plans to replace even a quarter of this with green hydrogen over the next decade may be overly optimistic, given the uncertainties regarding production costs and renewable energy supply stability.

Transportation challenges

The logistics of transporting green hydrogen also present unresolved issues. There are no clear, globally accepted guidelines for the costs associated with transporting green hydrogen, nor is there consensus on whether existing natural gas pipelines can be adapted for hydrogen transport. Technical complexities, such as the risk of embrittlement in pipelines and challenges related to hydrogen leakage and compression, further complicate these matters.

Given these uncertainties about the viability and affordability of green hydrogen production, the current fervor surrounding it raises questions about whether we are putting the cart before the horse. Countries, including India, are investing millions with the hope that production costs will drop and that renewable energy sources will become more stable and widely available.

It appears likely that massive subsidies will be essential for sustaining green hydrogen and ammonia projects. Given the expense associated with producing green ammonia—integral for fertilizers—costly green hydrogen could push production expenses beyond farmers' reach, emphasizing the need for persistent government support.

In contrast, the Dutch government has initiated a subsidy scheme worth €998 million to bolster green hydrogen production, providing grants covering up to 80% of investments along with additional support over several years, highlighting the global commitment to green hydrogen as a future fuel.

Ultimately, while the backing for green hydrogen projects reflects a global push towards sustainable energy, the current investments must be viewed as calculated risks amidst significant challenges ahead.

---

*Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai

Comments

The silencing of conscience: Ideological attacks on India’s judiciary and free thought

By Sunil Kumar* “Volunteers will pick up sticks to remove every obstacle that comes in the way of Sanatan and saints’ work.” — RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (November 6, 2024, Chitrakoot) Eleven months later, on October 6, 2025, a man who threw a shoe inside the Supreme Court shouted, “India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan.” This incident was not an isolated act but a continuation of a pattern seen over the past decade—attacks on intellectuals, writers, activists, and journalists, sometimes in the name of institutions, sometimes by individual actors or organizations.

'Violation of Apex Court order': Delhi authorities blamed for dog-bite incidents at JLN Stadium

By A Representative People for Animals (PFA), led by Ms. Ambika Shukla, has held the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) responsible for the recent dog-bite incidents at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, accusing it of violating Supreme Court directions regarding community dogs. The organisation’s on-ground fact-finding mission met stadium authorities and the two affected coaches to verify details surrounding the incidents, both of which occurred on October 3.

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu. He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Citizens’ group to recall Justice Chagla’s alarm as India faces ‘undeclared' Emergency

By A Representative In a move likely to raise eyebrows among the powers-that-be, a voluntary organisation founded during the “dark days” of the Indira Gandhi -imposed Emergency has announced that it will hold a public conference in Ahmedabad to highlight what its office-bearers call today’s “undeclared Emergency.”

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

From seed to soil: How transnational control is endangering food sovereignty

By Bharat Dogra In recent decades, the world has witnessed a steady erosion of plant diversity in many countries, particularly those in the Global South that were once richly endowed with natural plant wealth. Much of this diversity has been removed from its original ecological and cultural contexts and transferred into gene banks concentrated in developed nations. While conservation of genetic resources is important, the problem arises when access to these collections becomes unequal, particularly when they fall under the control of transnational corporations.

Counterview

Search This Blog