Time for action: PM Modi calls for global cooperation to promote green hydrogen

New Delhi, September 11 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday underlined India’s ambition to become a global centre for green hydrogen production and called for international cooperation in promoting renewable energy sources.

Addressing the ‘Second International Green Hydrogen Conference’ virtually, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that green hydrogen can play a key role in decarbonising industries and act as a storage solution for surplus renewable energy.

“Green hydrogen can help decarbonize industries that are difficult to electrify, such as refineries, fertiliser production, steel production and heavy transport,” said Prime Minister Modi.

He also mentioned that India has launched a ‘National Green Hydrogen Mission’ in 2023 to accelerate energy transformation.

Addressing growing concerns about climate change, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that its impacts are no longer a distant problem but a present-day challenge.

“The world is going through a fundamental transformation and the time for action is now,” he noted, noting that energy transition and sustainable development have now become central to global political discussions.

India has become a leader in clean energy, meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement nine years ahead of its 2030 target.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted that India’s installed capacity of non-fossil fuel power plants has increased by almost 300 per cent over the last decade, while solar power capacity has increased by over 3,000 per cent.

He, however, emphasised that India is not resting on its laurels as the country continues to focus on new and innovative energy solutions.

“The National Green Hydrogen Mission stimulates innovation, infrastructure, industry and investment,” he said.

He added that the government is promoting partnerships between industry and academia, encouraging the establishment of new companies and supporting entrepreneurship in the green hydrogen sector.

Prime Minister Modi also noted that this growing green ecosystem has the potential to create jobs, especially for the youth.

“We are also working on developing the skills of our youth in this sector,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi, recognising the global nature of climate change and energy transformation, called for international cooperation to promote green hydrogen.

“Scaling up production, minimizing costs and building infrastructure can only be achieved through global cooperation,” he said, emphasizing that international partnerships are essential to advance research, innovation and technological progress in this field.

At the G20 Summit held in India in September 2023, the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration adopted five voluntary high-level principles on hydrogen. These principles provide the basis for creating unified global roadmaps for the development of green hydrogen.

Prime Minister Modi also appealed to the scientific community to explore ways to make green hydrogen production more efficient.

He called on experts to propose policy changes and research areas, including increasing the efficiency of electrolysers, using seawater and municipal waste to produce hydrogen, and increasing the use of green hydrogen in public transport, shipping and inland waterways.

“Joint research on these topics will greatly help in the transition to green energy worldwide,” the Prime Minister said.

He concluded: “Humanity has faced many challenges, but we have always overcome them through collective and innovative solutions.

“We can achieve anything if we work together. Let’s work to accelerate the development and deployment of green hydrogen,” he added.