Powering a Green Future: India’s Bold Initiative to Advance Green Hydrogen Innovation

India has taken a bold step towards a sustainable future by inviting proposals to establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs) focused on Green Hydrogen research and development. This call, made by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on November 4, 2024, is an important step forward in the country's transition to a low-carbon, energy-independent future. Through these CoEs, India aims to lead the way in clean energy innovation, making Green Hydrogen a cornerstone of its sustainable energy strategy.

These Centres of Excellence are set to be game-changers for India's transition to a low-carbon economy. They intend to accelerate advances in Green Hydrogen production, storage, and utilisation, ultimately increasing the country's long-term energy independence. The CoEs will improve sustainability, increase access to renewable energy, and promote India's position as a clean energy leader by promoting breakthrough technologies.

More than just research hubs, the CoEs will become vibrant collaboration platforms where industry experts, academic institutions, and government bodies unite. The CoEs will use these relationships to promote real-world innovation, improve process efficiencies, and develop new products that have the potential to transform the energy industry. Acting as centres for skill-building and knowledge-sharing, these CoEs are set to gather the brightest minds to advance the entire Green Hydrogen ecosystem across the country.

Launched with an allocation of Rs. 100 crores, this initiative builds on the framework established by the MNRE’s guidelines released on March 15, 2024. These guidelines lay the groundwork for public-private collaborations, encouraging universities, research institutes, and commercial firms to collaborate on building India's green hydrogen future.

This initiative is a part of the broader National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in January 2023 with a budget of Rs. 19,744 crores extending through 2029-30. By nurturing these CoEs, India is not only moving toward its vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) but also positioning itself as a leader in global clean energy innovation. This mission is a leap forward in reducing fossil fuel dependence, decarbonising the economy, and demonstrating India’s commitment to a sustainable, green future.