Making India energy-independent by 2047

Indian enterprise is at the edge of the energy transition. Indian policy must support it with clearer pathways. On 15th August 2021– the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence Day, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the National Hydrogen Mission to make India energy-independent by 2047.

Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India today is not energy independent. Energy imports in the country account for an average of Rs 12,000 crore a year. Energy independence is vital for India’s development. Hence, today, India must resolve to become energy-independent 2047, and our roadmap is very clear on this.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also flagged the launch of a National Hydrogen Mission in his annual Independence Day speech, citing massive expansion of H2 produced from renewables as a route to reducing historic reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Tribhuvan Darbari – MD & CEO – Texmaco Defence Systems, Chief Executive – Texmaco Rail & Engineering & Board Director – Simon India Limited (Adventz Group) said that the benefits of hydrogen will help move us to a sustainable energy economy. Tribhuvan Darbari further added that Hydrogen and fuel cells can play an important role in our national energy strategy, with the potential for use in a broad range of applications, across virtually all sectors—transportation, commercial, industrial, residential and portable. Hydrogen and fuel cells can provide energy for use in diverse applications, including distributed or combined-heat-and-power; backup power; systems for storing and enabling renewable energy; portable power; auxiliary power for trucks, aircraft, rail, and ships; specialty vehicles such as forklifts; and passenger and freight vehicles including cars, trucks, and buses.

Due to their high efficiency and zero-or near-zero emissions operation, hydrogen and fuel cells can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in many applications.

Hydrogen’s star is rising in the east, as this fuel of the future looks set to form an increasingly important part of the energy mix of Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries.

Tribhuvan Darbari also mentioned that countries like Singapore, Japan, Australia and other APAC nations are firmly embracing hydrogen’s potential as a fuel source that can harness surplus energy from renewables, be quickly converted to and from electricity, and is easily stored for long periods. The reason is that the green hydrogen produced from renewables using hydrolysis could help the region’s expanding economies decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors like transport and heavy industry.

Mentioning the role and commitment of Indian enterprise in transforming the Indian economy into a sustainable energy economy, Tribhuvan Darbari said that the Indian enterprise is already focused on it. On June 24, Reliance Industries has already announced plans to build a giga-factory to manufacture modular (high-efficiency, low capital cost) electrolysers, which would be used to produce green hydrogen. This is part of its commitment to invest $10 billion in new energy businesses. In March, Adani Enterprises declared a collaboration with Italian conglomerate Maire Tecnimont, to develop green hydrogen projects in India. ACME, another Indian company, has commissioned a plant in Rajasthan to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia with plans for a larger facility in Oman.

Tribhuvan Darbari said that all we needed is the policy that would support clearer pathways to build a green hydrogen economy. CEEW estimates hydrogen demand in India to reach 1 million tonnes by 2030, a $44 billion investment opportunity. IEA estimates that global demand would be 200 MT by then. India could produce green hydrogen (leveraging its low-cost renewables) for export markets. In February, the Centre announced plans to launch a National Hydrogen Energy Mission.

such high-profile backing from Modi is a hugely important signal designed to drive the direction of policy, and send a strong message of confidence to investors. The Prime Minister’s enthusiastic support has been a key driver of renewable energy growth in India, which is chasing a 450GW installed target for 2030 that is among the world’s most ambitious and last week passed the 100GW mark.

Recharge reported last week how plans for the first measures under the green hydrogen strategy are already under consideration, with moves to compel oil refiners and fertilizer plants to include minimum levels in their industrial processes.

In a further boost to green hydrogen, draft power market regulations published by the Indian government on Monday opened the way for procurement of renewable H2, as well as green electricity, to count towards any renewable purchase obligation (RPO) commitments faced by industrial users.

Sources:

Live Mint: Independence Day: PM Modi announces National Hydrogen Mission

Spectra: APAC’s hydrogen network

NDTV: PM Modi Announces Hydrogen Mission, Self-Reliance In Energy By 2047