NewzVille Desk
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, on Thursday inaugurated the 1st Annual Green Hydrogen R&D Conference organized by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in New Delhi and launched a new ₹100 crore Call for Proposals to support start-ups in hydrogen innovation.
The scheme will provide up to ₹5 crore per project for pilot projects in innovative hydrogen production, storage, transport and utilisation technologies.
At the conference, 25 start-ups are showcasing their innovations, ranging from electrolyser manufacturing to AI-driven optimisation and biological hydrogen solutions.
Addressing the gathering, Joshi emphasized that the conference is not just about sharing ideas but about turning research into practical solutions that can power industries, clean cities, and create lakhs of new jobs across India.
He underscored the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) in 2023, to transform India’s energy landscape and make the country a global hub for green hydrogen. With an outlay of ₹19,744 crore, the Mission rests on four pillars – Policy and Regulatory Framework, Demand Creation, R&D and Innovation, and Enabling Infrastructure.
Green hydrogen ecosystem in India is already started to work and production. India’s first port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project has been launched at V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu.
In the steel sector, five pilot projects are demonstrating hydrogen-based decarbonisation.
In shipping, vessels are being retrofitted and refuelling facilities are being developed at Tuticorin Port.
In transport, hydrogen buses and refuelling stations are already operational.
In fertilisers, India conducted its first-ever green ammonia auction, discovering a historic low price of ₹49.75 per kg, compared to ₹100.28 per kg in 2024, with supplies set to begin at Paradeep Phosphates in Odisha.