Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026-3
Green Hydrogen: A Fuel of the Future,a Demand of the Present: A Policy Analysis of the Role of Green Hydrogen in India’s Pursuit of Energy Independence by 2047
As India targets energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070, green hydrogen has emerged as a critical pivot for decarbonising ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors like steel, refining and heavy transport. This article provides a policy and techno-economic analysis of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) within the global energy landscape. While green hydrogen offers a carbon-neutral alternative to grey hydrogen, its economic viability remains constrained by high production costs (3.9–12.8 USD/kg H2) compared to fossil-fuel-based methods (1.6–6.4 USD/kg H2). The study identifies a significant global ‘implementation gap’, where only a few of the announced hydrogen projects have reached the operational stage due to financing hurdles and supply chain constraints. Domestically, the research highlights critical sustainability challenges, specifically the requirement of approximately 9 litres of demineralised water per kilogram of H2, which may exacerbate water scarcity in India’s arid industrial hubs. The article concludes that while the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) initiative and domestic electrolyser manufacturing are vital steps towards cost parity, India must balance its export ambitions with local resource preservation to ensure a truly just energy transition.
AbdallaA. M., HossainS., NisfindyO. B., AzadA. T., DawoodM., & AzadA. K. (2018). Hydrogen production, storage, transportation and key challenges with applications: A review. Energy Conversion and Management, 165, 602–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.03.088
2.
AlverhedE., & KåvikF. (2020). The decoupling process of CO2 emissions and economic growth: A comparative study between the European Union and middle-income countries in South and East Asia. Jönköping University.
3.
BainsP., BennettS., CollinaL., ConnellyE., DelmastroC., EvangelopoulouS., FajardyM., GouyA., KotaniM., Le MaroisJ.-B., LeviP., Martinez GordonR., McDonaghS., PavanF., PizarroA., SlootsN., & WinklerC. (2023). Global Hydrogen Review 2023. International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-hydrogen-review-2023
4.
BanerjeeD., KushwahaN., ShettiN. P., AminabhaviT. M., & AhmadE. (2022). Green hydrogen production via photo-reforming of bio-renewable resources. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 167, 112827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112827
5.
CollinsL. (2022, February23). India’s new interim H2 strategy ‘will push down cost of green hydrogen by up to 75 per cent by 2030’. Recharge News. https://pglfmc.com/latest_news/indias-new-interim-h2-strategy-will-push-down-cost-of-green-hydrogen-by-up-to-75-by-2030/
6.
Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). (2023). Reuse of treated wastewater in India: Market potential and recommendations for strengthening governance. https://www.ceew.in/sites/default/files/scaling-wastewater-reuse-treatment-and-management-india.pdf
7.
DavisM., OkunlolaA., Di LulloG. T. G., & KumarA. (2023). Greenhouse gas reduction potential and cost-effectiveness of economy-wide hydrogen natural gas blending for energy end uses. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 171, 112962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112962
8.
DuttaS., & Siddhartha. (2023, August6). India to make green hydrogen mandatory for user industries. ET EnergyWorld. https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/india-to-make-green-hydrogen-mandatory-for-user-industries/85088531
9.
EhsanS., & WahidM. A. (2016). Hydrogen production from renewable and sustainable energy resources: Promising green energy carrier for clean development. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 57, 850–866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.040
10.
Ernst & Young (EY) LLP. (2022). Accelerating green hydrogen economy. https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/en-in/insights/energy-resources/documents/ey-accelerating-green-hydrogen-economy.pdf
11.
FriedenF., & LekerJ. (2024). Future costs of hydrogen: A quantitative review. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 8(9), 1806–1822. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SE00137K
12.
GhoshA., & ChhabraS. (2021). Speed and scale for disruptive climate technologies: Case for a global green hydrogen alliance. Global Challenges Foundation. https://globalgovernanceforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Case-for-a-Global-Green-Hydrogen-Alliance.pdf
13.
Greenhouse Gas Emission NITI Aayog. (2020). India climate & energy dashboard. https://iced.niti.gov.in/climate-and-environment/ghg-emissions/energy
14.
H-Vision. (2019). Annexes to the H-vision main report. https://www.deltalinqs.nl/h-vision-en
15.
HubertM., PetersonD., MillerE., VickersJ., MowR., & CampbellH. (2024). Clean hydrogen production cost scenarios with PEM electrolyser technology (DOE Hydrogen Program Record). US Department of Energy.
16.
International Energy Agency (IEA). (2018). World energy outlook 2018. https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2018
17.
International Energy Agency (IEA). (2022). World energy balances. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/25266100-859c-4b9c-bd46-cc4069bd4412/WORLDBAL_Documentation.pdf
18.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2018). Hydrogen from renewable power: Technology outlook for the energy transition. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2018/Sep/IRENA_Hydrogen_from_renewable_power_2018.pdf
19.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2020). Global renewables outlook: Energy transformation 2050. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2020/Apr/IRENA_Global_Renewables_Outlook_2020.pdf
20.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2020). Green hydrogen for industry: A guide to policy making. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Mar/IRENA_Green_Hydrogen_Industry_2022_.pdf
21.
KotowiczJ., BaszczeńskaO., & NiesporekK. (2024). Cost of green hydrogen. Energies, 17(18), 4651. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17184651
22.
KoundalA. (2023). Up to 10 per cent green hydrogen blended PNG to be ‘very economical’ than LPG: NTPC. ET EnergyWorld. https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/you-might-be-burning-hydrogen-in-your-piped-cooking-gas-supply-soon-d-lakshmanan-senior-manager-ntpc/103563498
23.
KumarC., FeketeH., & OutlawI. (2023). The landscape of green hydrogen in India. New Climate Institute. https://newclimate.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/The%20landscape%20of%20green%20hydrogen%20in%20India_nov2023.pdf
24.
LongdenT., JotzoF., PrasadM., & AndrewsR. (2020). Green hydrogen production costs in Australia: Implications of renewable energy and electrolyser costs [CCEP Working Paper 20–07, Australian National University].
25.
ManJ., MaT., YuY., & RenH. (2024). Levelized costs and potential production of green hydrogen with wind and solar power in different provinces of mainland China. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0183511
26.
MazloomiK., & GomesC. (2012). Hydrogen as an energy carrier: Prospects and challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(5), 3024–3033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.004
27.
MegíaP. J., VizcaínoA. J., CallesJ. A., & CarreroA. (2021). Hydrogen production technologies: From fossil fuels toward renewable sources. A mini review. Energy & Fuels, 35(13), 16403–16415. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c01250
28.
Ministry of New and Renewable, Energy (MNRE). (2023). National green hydrogen mission. Government of India.
29.
Ministry of Power (MoP). (2022). Green hydrogen/green ammonia policy. Government of India.
30.
Monolith. (2020). Monolith Materials plans to build country’s first large-scale carbon-free ammonia plant. https://www.monolithmaterials.com/news/monolithmaterials-carbon-free-ammonia-plant
31.
NITI Aayog. (n.d.a). Energy sector: GHG emissions in India. https://iced.niti.gov.in/climate-and-environment/ghg-emissions/energy
32.
NITI Aayog. (n.d.b). Industrial processes and product, use (IPPU) sector: GHG emissions. https://iced.niti.gov.in/climate-and-environment/ghg-emissions/ippu
33.
OdenwellerA., & UeckerdtF. (2025). The green hydrogen ambition and implementation gap. Nature Energy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-024-01684-7
34.
PhilibertC. (2020). Methane splitting and turquoise ammonia. Ammonia Energy Association. https://www.ammoniaenergy.org/articles/methane-splitting-and-turquoise-ammonia/
35.
Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India. (2022). India’s stand at COP-26. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1795071®=3&lang=2
36.
Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India. (2023). India announces definition of green hydrogen. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1950421®=3&lang=2
37.
Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India. (2023). National hydrogen mission: Decarbonising India, achieving net-zero vision. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2023/jan/doc2023110150801.pdf
38.
SmithF., FranklinJ., CurranS., & CarlsonH. (2021). COP26: Hydrogen in the spotlight. White & Case. https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/cop26-hydrogen-spotlight
39.
SontakkeU., & JajuS. (2021). Green hydrogen economy and opportunities for India. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1206(1), 012005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1206/1/012005
40.
WasnikA. (2022). We are aiming for green hydrogen cost of $1 per kg by 2030: Amitabh Kant. ET EnergyWorld. https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/we-are-aiming-for-green-hydrogen-cost-of-1-per-kg-by-2030-amitabh-kant/89974517
41.
YounusH. A., Al HajriR., AhmadN., Al-JammalN., VerpoortF., & Al AbriM. (2025). Green hydrogen production and deployment: Opportunities and challenges. Discover Electrochemistry, 2, Article 32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44373-025-00043-9
