Green hydrogen to create cleaner-more secure future
India’s quest to achieve Net Zero by 2070 is gaining fresh momentum as Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik called upon scientists, industry leaders, startups and young researchers to make India a global hub of green hydrogen innovation http://mnre.gov.in.
Addressing the valedictory session of the first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference organised by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Naik said the two-day event had brought together the finest minds to chart the country’s path towards a clean, secure and self-reliant energy future.
Green Hydrogen at the Heart of India’s Net Zero Journey
Naik said that India has embarked on an ambitious journey to achieve Net Zero by 2070 and to position itself as a global leader in clean energy https://www.nseindia.com/.
“At the heart of this journey lies green hydrogen, a fuel that promises to decarbonise our hardest-to-abate sectors, open new trade frontiers, and create a cleaner and more secure future,” he said https://www.bseindia.com/.
He noted that through the National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Government is laying the foundations for India to emerge not just as a consumer, but as a global hub of innovation, manufacturing and deployment in hydrogen technologies.
Strengthening India’s R&D Ecosystem
MNRE has already supported more than 200 R&D projects in renewable energy, fuel cells, hydrogen, and storage technologies. Dedicated funding, testing facilities, and incubation programmes have been created so that Indian researchers and innovators have the ecosystem to translate ideas into breakthrough solutions.“This very conference is a testimony to our collective resolve, to make India’s laboratories into launchpads, and our startups into global champions,” Naik said.
Wide-Ranging Deliberations Over Two Days
Naik said that over the last two days, the conference witnessed stimulating discussions, bold ideas, and visionary debates, bringing together the finest minds from research institutions, industry, startups, and government. Participants deliberated on crucial themes including India’s vision as an R&D and innovation leader in green hydrogen; cutting-edge production pathways such as electrolysis, thermochemical, and biological routes; challenges of storage, transport and fuel-cell applications; and the need to balance safety with scalability. They also discussed governance frameworks, prototyping and commercialization, infrastructure, testing facilities, and talent development as essential pillars of a strong R&D ecosystem.
He said the sessions on blue-sky research and biological hydrogen production reminded participants to pursue long-term, curiosity-driven science even as near-term applications are advanced. Roundtables on safety, novel end-use applications, and testing infrastructure highlighted how collaborative innovation can ensure reliability, affordability, and trust in green hydrogen technologies.
Empowering Young Researchers and Startups
The Minister emphasised that research cannot remain confined to academic silos and must move seamlessly to pilots, prototypes, and commercial deployment to achieve scale and make hydrogen cost-competitive and accessible.
Congratulating young researchers and startups who presented their pioneering work, Naik said their energy, imagination and passion embody the spirit of Amrit Kaal and the vision of a developed India by 2047.
He noted that the launch of the call for proposals for hydrogen startups during the conference is yet another step to empower them, reduce barriers, and fast-track innovation.
“For our youth, I have a simple message: think beyond incremental change. Aspire to design disruptive solutions that can shape the world’s energy future,” he said, urging institutions to nurture interdisciplinary hubs where academia, industry and entrepreneurship converge.
Driving Economic Growth, Competitiveness and Clean Energy
Naik said this mission is about more than clean energy, it is about economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and environmental responsibility. Green hydrogen will power the steel, cement, fertilizer, mobility, and shipping sectors, help reduce import dependence, create high-value jobs, and establish India as a key exporter in the emerging global hydrogen economy.
“At a time when countries are designing cross-border carbon regulations, India’s leadership in green hydrogen will ensure that our industries remain competitive and future-ready,” he added.
India Ready to Transform Challenges into Opportunities
Acknowledging the challenges in the journey from research to commercialization, Naik said it requires patience, perseverance, and precision.
“But with the ecosystem we are building, state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure, a supportive policy framework, international partnerships, and the extraordinary talent of our scientists and entrepreneurs, I am confident that India will not only meet these challenges, but transform them into opportunities,” he said.
The conference was held from 11–12 September 2025 in New Delhi. Fiinews.com
