On the side-lines of the second Energy Transition Working Group meeting, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosted the side event “Green Hydrogen – Advancing Net-Zero Pathways.” The side event was conducted in partnership with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with World Resources Institute India (WRI India) as knowledge partner.
The discussions were centred around policy, regulatory, and financial frameworks to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen and promote cooperation amongst G20 nations. The event also featured an exhibition where India’s first hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) truck was displayed.
Speaking at the inaugural session in his keynote address Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, secretary, the MNRE said, “Creating policy mechanisms and regulatory frameworks along with establishing collaborations between countries, could accelerate a green hydrogen ecosystem. Developing consensus on a common framework for hydrogen certification would be extremely critical to enable global hydrogen trade. Achieving this will be of paramount importance as part of G20 deliberations and discussions.”
Giving a global perspective on green hydrogen Gauri Singh, Deputy Director General, IRENA said “At present about 100 MTs of hydrogen is produced globally, and 98 per cent of that comes from fossil fuels. The world’s current power consumption, 21,000 TWh, must be generated six times over to switch to a green hydrogen economy.”
The government press release stated that the growing efforts to diversify and advance the fuel basket will not only result in environmental benefits but would also be accompanied by energy security and reduced import dependency. To meet clean energy transition objectives, G20 nations will require adoption of multi-pronged strategies which should include renewable energy, green hydrogen, and its derivatives. Substantive and coordinated global efforts are required to position green hydrogen as a key lever for energy transition, especially for hard-to-abate industrial sectors, long haul and heavy transport (including aviation and shipping), and other potential applications including heating and energy storage.
