Union Budget FY26 to Boost Green Hydrogen Initiatives in India's Key Industries
Key Ideas
- The Union Budget for FY26 is likely to announce financial support for green hydrogen initiatives in polluting industries like steel, cement, and power to accelerate their adoption.
- India's National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, leveraging the country's vast land area and low solar and wind tariffs to produce low-cost green hydrogen and ammonia for export.
- Incentives for green hydrogen adoption and carbon capture technologies are expected to be included in the budget to encourage polluting businesses to transition towards cleaner energy sources.
- CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) is seen as crucial for decarbonizing India's industrial sector, especially in hard-to-abate sectors like power generation, where coal remains the primary source of energy.
The Union Budget for the fiscal year 2026 in India is poised to introduce measures to support green hydrogen initiatives in key polluting industries like steel, cement, and power. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed incentives for the adoption and procurement of green hydrogen to accelerate the energy transition goals. With the National Green Hydrogen Mission aiming to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, India plans to utilize its vast land area and low solar and wind tariffs to produce cost-effective green hydrogen and ammonia for export, enhancing the country's energy security.
The government is considering fiscal support to increase the capacity and usage of green hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. These incentives would encourage polluting businesses to transition towards cleaner energy sources voluntarily. The subsidy schemes in place are deemed insufficient by experts, and additional financial support is crucial for the successful adoption of green hydrogen and CCUS.
CCUS technologies are vital for decarbonizing India's industrial sector, particularly in sectors that are challenging to electrify and abate due to reliance on fossil fuels like coal. With over 70% of India's electricity generated from coal, CCUS is essential for meaningful decarbonization and ensuring energy security. The proposed incentives aim to accelerate the adoption of CCUS in hard-to-abate sectors to support India's ambitious net-zero goals.
The budget announcement is expected to address the need for financial support to drive the transition towards green hydrogen and CCUS technologies in the Indian industrial landscape, marking a significant step towards achieving sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in the country.
Topics
India
Renewable Energy
Energy Security
Energy Transition
Geopolitics
Carbon Capture
Incentives
Industrial Decarbonization
Union Budget
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