‘The future of India’s transport network will be green hydrogen’: oil minister

Acknowledging the need for cost reduction, a legislator has voiced confidence in the United States' objective to achieve renewable hydrogen at $1 per kilogram by 2031. Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, made these remarks during the launch of India's inaugural green hydrogen fuel cell bus in Delhi. He hailed the new bus as a "game changer," showcasing India's capacity to establish a green hydrogen economy, drawing a parallel to India's successful lunar rover mission to the moon's south pole.

In a video shared by the Business Times, Puri emphasized the significance of being the pioneer in developing vehicles powered by green hydrogen, asserting, "The future of our transport will be green hydrogen." Puri further unveiled plans to introduce 15 additional green hydrogen fuel-cell buses in the Delhi region.

The green hydrogen utilized for these buses, two of which have commenced operations this week, is sourced from India's leading oil company, Indian Oil, through a pilot project at its research and development center in Faridabad. However, it remains uncertain whether this facility can supply green hydrogen for a fleet of 15 or more buses. Addressing concerns raised by journalists about the operational expenses of these buses, Puri candidly admitted that cost remains a short-term challenge. He stressed the importance of reducing the cost of green hydrogen. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism in the US Hydrogen Shot program, which aims to achieve the goal of renewable hydrogen at $1 per kilogram without relying on subsidies by 2031.

It's worth noting that the US government has already indicated that the success of the Hydrogen Shot program may necessitate additional research and development efforts incorporated into existing initiatives.

India has embarked on an aggressive campaign to stimulate hydrogen demand in its industrial and transportation sectors. Earlier this month, the country announced a $177 million fund to subsidize the transition to hydrogen as a transport fuel and in steel production. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has also committed to launching hydrogen-powered trains in India as early as December of this year.

Puri estimated that domestic demand for hydrogen could quadruple to reach 28 million tonnes by 2050. He further asserted that public sector operators could potentially generate up to one million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030. These initiatives underscore India's commitment to harnessing the potential of green hydrogen as a key player in its sustainable energy future.