To spice up India’s inexperienced hydrogen exports and encourage energy-intensive sectors to undertake the rising gas, the Centre has launched a certification scheme below the Nationwide Inexperienced Hydrogen Mission and notified guidelines for claiming emission offsets below the Carbon Credit score Buying and selling Scheme (CCTS).
Union Minister of New and Renewable Vitality Pralhad Joshi on April 29 launched a scheme to measure, monitor, report, confirm on-site, and certify inexperienced hydrogen primarily based on an ordinary launched by the Ministry in 2023.
What’s inexperienced hydrogen certification?
“This can assist to make sure that the hydrogen produced in India really qualifies as inexperienced. A number of greenwashing tends to occur lately, which is why certification is most essential. With the certification in place, our inexperienced hydrogen will carry a mark of high quality and credibility, making it globally fascinating and export-ready,” Joshi stated concerning the scheme.
On April 27, the Bureau of Vitality Effectivity (BEE), nodal company for the Inexperienced Hydrogen Certification Scheme, additionally introduced an offset mechanism for hard-to-abate sectors utilizing inexperienced hydrogen below CCTS, to permit them to earn and commerce credit.
Whereas CCTS doesn’t but embody sectors like metal, refineries, and transport, the place there’s a use case for switching to inexperienced hydrogen, the newest tips will present trade better readability on compliance earlier than the ambit of CCTS ultimately widens.
An ideal framework for Inexperienced Hydrogen, below the visionary management of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, enabling clear measurement, monitoring and certification, paving the best way for MSMEs to thrive in sustainable power. pic.twitter.com/RFN9Hs4q2I
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) April 29, 2025
Certification enhance for exports, however prices stay a hurdle
In 2023, the Ministry of New and Renewable Vitality (MNRE) launched a inexperienced hydrogen commonplace, capping emissions at 2 kg of CO2 per kg of hydrogen produced. The certification scheme, primarily based on the usual, applies solely to inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing from electrolysis or conversion of biomass.
With the scheme in place, the export attraction of Indian inexperienced hydrogen is more likely to enhance. On the launch, Joshi stated India has signed an settlement with Japan to provide over 4 lakh tonnes of inexperienced hydrogen derivatives like inexperienced ammonia. The heads of phrases (HoT) for the cross-border provide of inexperienced ammonia to Japan had been signed in August final 12 months.
Story continues beneath this ad
Nonetheless, excessive manufacturing prices stay a hurdle. In March, the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Vitality famous that “the present price of manufacturing of inexperienced hydrogen is sort of excessive,” and known as for inexperienced hydrogen hubs to be situated in areas wealthy in renewable power, water, and proximity to demand centres to be economically viable.
For exports, the federal government has recognized Kandla, Paradip, and Tuticorin—all with worldwide ports—as key hubs for inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing.
“In 2012-13, the price of photo voltaic power was Rs 12 per unit; right this moment it’s round Rs 2,” Joshi stated. “What made this attainable? Scale, talent, and velocity. Inexperienced hydrogen will observe the identical path,” he added.
Offset guidelines for carbon credit launched
On the launch of the inexperienced hydrogen certification scheme, Saurabh Diddi, director of BEE, emphasised the significance of guaranteeing transparency, authenticity, and accountability in inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing. Diddi additionally stated the certification scheme “will improve investor confidence and allow producers to entry carbon credit”.
Story continues beneath this ad
On April 27, the BEE, below the Ministry of Energy, launched a strategy for estimating carbon offsets from inexperienced hydrogen produced through electrolysis. In impact, it defines how switching from fossil fuels like coal to inexperienced hydrogen can cut back emissions and earn tradable credit below CCTS.
To this point, emissions targets below CCTS apply solely to sectors like aluminium, chlor-alkali, pulp and paper, and cement, the place the potential of inexperienced hydrogen is restricted. Nevertheless, the brand new methodology gives a compliance roadmap for hard-to-abate sectors like metal and transport, as soon as CCTS expands to cowl them.
To be clear, the inexperienced hydrogen certification scheme itself will not be a mitigation software and doesn’t generate emission discount credit. Nevertheless, it may be used to assist claims for credit below CCTS.
Heavy water use for inexperienced hydrogen prompts desalination push
In comparison with the principles for inexperienced hydrogen certification, the carbon offset mechanism below CCTS units considerably stricter requirements—particularly on water use for electrolysis. CCTS tips, as an illustration, cap a challenge’s water consumption at not more than 5 per cent of the regionally accessible consuming water, to make sure it doesn’t displace different makes use of.
Story continues beneath this ad
Producing 1 kg of inexperienced hydrogen through electrolysis requires round 10 litres of handled water, in accordance with official estimates.
“The handled water required for hydrogen manufacturing may also be sourced by desalinating seawater or treating wastewater, with solely a marginal affect on the price of hydrogen manufacturing,” the MNRE informed the Standing Committee on Vitality.
“Below the Mission, sustainable use of water will likely be inspired. R&D may also be supported for applied sciences that may utilise seawater or waste water immediately, thereby lowering the necessity for remedy and additional lowering the water requirement,” it stated.
Backed by an outlay of almost Rs 20,000 crore, the Nationwide Inexperienced Hydrogen Mission additionally helps home electrolyser manufacturing, inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing, and sector-specific pilot tasks.