If the 2010s were India’s solar decade, the 2020s may well be our green hydrogen decade. In under two years, India has moved from policy intent to real auctions, pilots at ports, and a certification backbone, paving the way for us to lead the next clean-molecule wave.
“Our goal is to produce 5 MMT of green hydrogen annually by 2030”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
What’s Driving the Momentum
- A mission with money. The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) carries an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore, which includes ₹17,490 crore for SIGHT-linked electrolyzer and production incentives, plus allocations for pilots and R&D
- Clear targets. NGHM aspires to 5 MMT/year of green hydrogen production by 2030, powered by major build-outs in RE and electrolyzer capacity
- Global-grade standards. India’s Green Hydrogen Standard caps lifecycle emissions at ≤ 2 kg CO2e per kg H2 essential for credible domestic and export trade
- Certification framework. The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme ensures reliable tracking and verification of “green” credentials across the supply chain
“Government will ensure India is competitive in the Green Hydrogen export market”
(then) MNRE Minister R. K. Singh
Markets Are Forming Fast
SECI’s Green Ammonia Tender: Lowest Price Discovery Yet
- Historic low achieved. In its first-ever auction under SIGHT’s Mode-2A, SECI discovered a record-low price of ₹55.75/kg (~USD 641/MT) for the supply of 75,000MT/year of green ammonia to Paradeep Phosphates, Odisha. This marks a dramatic drop from the ₹100.28/kg (~USD 1,153/MT) in the previous H2Global auction.
- Bidding competition heats up. Other recent awardees span the price range:
- NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd: ₹51.80/kg for 70,000 MT/year to Krishna Phoschem, Meghnagar
- Oriana Power: ₹52.25/kg for 60,000 MT/year to Madhya Bharat Agro Products, Sagar
- Jakson Green: ₹50.75/kg for 85,000 MT/year to Coromandel International, Kakinada—setting the lowest price yet
- Onix Renewable: ₹52.50/kg for 50,000 MT/year to GNFC, Gujarat
These bids show a clear, accelerating price compression across the value chain.
Ports & Shipping Pilots
- India is establishing hydrogen hubs at key ports. A 1 MW Make-in-India GH₂ plant is now commissioned at Kandla Port, scaling to 10 MW (~140 t/year), to service port operations and mobility
- Strategic plans include transitioning coastal and inland shipping to green fuel within the next ~5 years
“By 2030, India shall have installed electrolyzer capacity of 60–100 GW”
by MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi²
Why India Matters Globally
- Emissions impact. NITI Aayog and RMI estimate that green hydrogen could help India avoid ~3.6 Gt CO2 cumulatively by 2050, reinforcing its Net Zero 2070 journey
- Massive demand. Projected hydrogen demand of ~11 MMT by 2030, with NGHM helping to boost the green share to ~46%, up from ~16% without policy intervention
- Investment & jobs. The mission is estimated to catalyze ₹8 lakh crore+ in investment and generate ~600,000 jobs across manufacturing, EPC, O&M, logistics, and services
From Pilots to Pipelines: What’s Next
- Steel: Focus on green hydrogen-based direct reduction and H2-readiness in steel assets, unlocking deep decarbonization
- Fertilizers & chemicals: Green ammonia and related derivatives, now cost-competitive, are fast becoming attractive offtake anchors
- Refining: Green molecules can enable near-term decarbonization wins in hydrotreating and desulfurization
- Mobility & shipping: Port-led hydrogen corridors and green methanol retrofit projects are maturing fast
“The National Green Hydrogen Mission is giving an impetus to innovation, infrastructure, industry and investment”
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi
What to Watch Over the Next 12–24 Months
- Electrolyzer manufacturing scale-up via SIGHT incentive tranches.
- Certification & traceability rollout, critical for export access and FTA negotiations.
- Port-driven hydrogen corridors and industrial cluster integration.
- SECI’s upcoming offtake tender rounds for green hydrogen and its derivatives.
The Takeaway
Policy clarity + standards + auctions + pilot projects = market formation. With India’s strengths in renewables, manufacturing, and heavy industry, green hydrogen is rapidly becoming a strategic industrial pillar, not just a niche initiative.
