India’s Minister of Power, R.K. Singh, has announced that the country is on track to produce the world’s cheapest green hydrogen due to its exceptionally low renewable energy production costs. With 5.8 million tonnes of green hydrogen manufacturing capacity currently in various stages of installation, India is positioning itself as a global leader in green hydrogen production.
Singh emphasized that India’s strength lies in its cost-effective renewable energy production, with the cost of establishing 1 MW of renewable energy capacity in the country being just $600,000. He further revealed that the government plans to introduce bids for round-the-clock renewable power using green hydrogen for energy storage. Singh estimated that this initiative’s cost would not exceed INR 6 ($0.11) per kWh.
India has already set stringent green hydrogen standards, with the government mandating that carbon emissions throughout the entire green hydrogen production process should not exceed 2 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of hydrogen produced. This regulation positions India as a leader in green hydrogen quality.
Singh also reiterated the government’s commitment to making India a major manufacturer of cutting-edge solar cells and modules. The focus is on state-of-the-art solar production, with ongoing expansions and capacity-building initiatives to ensure India’s position as a leading global supplier of solar products.
India is demonstrating significant progress in renewable energy, with a current non-fossil capacity of 188 GW and an additional 88 GW in various stages of installation. The country aims to reach 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, surpassing its commitment to sustainable energy transition.
Singh highlighted India’s relatively low carbon emissions despite its large population, contributing only 4% to global carbon dioxide emissions while constituting 17% of the world’s population. India’s per capita emissions stand at approximately 2.2 tonnes, significantly lower than the global average of 6.3 tonnes.
Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, announced ambitious targets for renewable capacity additions in India, with plans to achieve 25 GW this year and further escalate to 40 GW next year, building on the country’s impressive progress in renewable energy deployment.
Source: Adapted from the original article on PV Magazine, dated October 3, 2023.
