Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 announced the target of achieving self-reliance in energy by 2047 and the formal launch of the National Hydrogen Mission, according to The Economics Times on the same day. The implementation plan includes increasing the proportion of natural gas consumption, building a nationwide network of compressed natural gas (CNG) pipes, and using 20% ethanol for petrol and electric vehicles. In addition, Modi stated that the country would produce 75% of hydrogen through renewable electricity and electrolysis by 2050, compared with all by using fossil fuel at present. With the National Hydrogen Mission initiative, India aimed to become a global green hydrogen center in both production and export.

India mentioned the National Hydrogen Mission in the Union Budget for 2021-22 for the first time this February. To execute the mission, India has taken action in hydrogen infrastructure across the country. This April, the Indian government collaborated with India H2 Alliance to develop a hydrogen valley supply chain across the country, covering blueprinting related policy and plans, creating hydrogen-linked supply chain standards, establishing green hydrogen funds, and other areas related to hydrogen. The alliance would help India to face the five-fold demand increase for green hydrogen in the next 30 years, as The Energy Transitions Commissions India’s forecast. Meanwhile, the Indian government planned to spend USD200m on the promotion of hydrogen usage in the next five to seven years.

Currently, energy imports cost India more than INR12tr (USD161.6bn) each year, said Modi, such as 85% of oil and half of natural gas bought from other countries. The mix of 20% ethanol with petrol to power vehicles is one measure to cut oil imports for the final energy independence target. On the other hand, India set a goal of achieving 450 gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity by 2030. Modi indicated India had reached its renewables milestone on August 13, referring to the total capacity of installed renewable energy for electricity generation in the country exceeding 100 gigawatts (GW) ahead of schedule. The number excluded large hydropower, which represented a big leap for the general 450GW goal. In addition, India mainly focuses on solar energy, which is estimated to account for over 60% of its total renewables by 2030.

Sources:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/modi-sets-2047-target-for-becoming-energy-independent/articleshow/85343356.cms

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/energy/union-budget-2021-22-india-to-launch-hydrogen-energy-mission-75314

https://energydigital.com/renewable-energy/india-h2-alliance-visions-hydrogen-valley-supply-chain

https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-spend-200-mln-next-5-7-years-promote-hydrogen-use-2021-04-15/

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/13/india-hails-milestone-for-its-renewables-capacity-challenges-remain.html

https://www.ibef.org/industry/renewable-energy.aspx