India's Blueprint for a Hydrogen Mobility Revolution
Key Ideas
- India is preparing a roadmap to establish a hydrogen-dispensing infrastructure nationwide to promote hydrogen as a clean mobility fuel.
- A specialized steering committee comprising officials from various ministries is tasked with developing recommendations for hydrogen corridors, storage, and dispensing infrastructure.
- The government aims to collaborate with private sector participants to accelerate the establishment of hydrogen dispensing stations and make it economically feasible.
- Key focus areas include standardizing hydrogen storage pressure, promoting domestic manufacturing, and fostering a conducive environment for the hydrogen infrastructure development.
India is gearing up to launch a roadmap focused on establishing a hydrogen-dispensing infrastructure across the country to promote hydrogen as a clean mobility fuel. With only a few operational hydrogen filling stations currently in place, the government is planning to engage private participants in building additional dispensing facilities locally. A steering committee, with officials from the ministries of road transport, renewable energy, and the Principal Scientific Adviser, will convene to develop recommendations and an action plan for creating hydrogen corridors and standardizing storage pressure. The ministry of road transport and highways, led by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, plays a crucial role in India's National Hydrogen Mission. The initiative aims to support cleaner alternative fuels to combat climate change. The government is focused on addressing challenges like high upfront costs, safety clearances, and regulatory permissions for setting up high-pressure hydrogen dispensing stations. It also emphasizes the importance of local manufacturing to reduce dependency on imports and lower costs. India's interest in hydrogen as a mobility fuel extends beyond electric vehicles, with the goal of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030 under the national green hydrogen mission. The government is keen on developing hydrogen corridors for buses and freight, and collaboration with private sector entities, particularly in steel and high-pressure systems sectors, is crucial for the success of the hydrogen infrastructure development.