The Indian government has set an emission limit of two kilograms of carbon dioxide for every kilogram of hydrogen produced to be classified as “green” from renewable sources, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said on Saturday.
India Advances into the Green Hydrogen Era: A Definition Established
He said in a statement that his notification would bring much-needed clarity to the production of green hydrogen in India:
“With this notification, India becomes one of the first countries in the world to announce a definition of green hydrogen,” the ministry said in the statement, which details the emissions that will be counted.
India wants to become a global hub for green hydrogen production and is aiming for annual production of 5 million metric tons of the fuel by 2030, which would reduce carbon emissions by around 50 million metric tons and save over $12 billion on fossil fuel imports.
It’s an ambitious plan for a country whose current hydrogen consumption is mainly produced using fossil fuels. While hydrogen only emits water when used as a fuel, it is manufactured by electrolysis plants that split water molecules, and the question is how much energy is used to produce it and the carbon emissions involved in the process.
Earlier this year, officials told Reuters that India, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 this year, was suggesting a CO2 emissions limit of 1kg for green hydrogen, half the threshold announced on Saturday. Although first production is not expected until 2026, India has negotiated bilateral agreements with the European Union, Japan and other countries to begin exporting the fuel.
