Green Hydrogen Certification Portal: Features, Significance and National Green Hydrogen Mission

Subject: GS 3: Economy

Context

The Union Government launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI) to strengthen transparency, certification and regulatory compliance in the green hydrogen sector.

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About Green Hydrogen Certification Portal

• The Green Hydrogen Certification Portal is a digital platform that facilitates certification of green hydrogen production  Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Nodal Ministry : The portal has been developed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Nodal Authority: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) acts as the nodal agency to govern the verification and certification processes.
• Key Features
  • Transparent Certification: It verifies whether hydrogen production complies with India’s green hydrogen standards and emission thresholds.
  • Regulatory Compliance: It enables producers to meet requirements under the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme.
  • Traceability and Credibility: It creates a standardized framework for monitoring, reporting and verification of green hydrogen production.
  • Market Facilitation: It supports domestic adoption, exports and investment by ensuring authenticity of certified green hydrogen.
• Significance: The portal strengthens investor confidence, promotes standardised certification and supports India’s ambition to become a global green hydrogen hub.

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National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM)

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission is India’s flagship programme for developing a comprehensive green hydrogen ecosystem to support decarbonisation, energy security and industrial growth.
• Origin: The Mission was launched in January 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore and is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Targets by 2030
  • Establish 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of annual green hydrogen production capacity.
  • Develop 125 GW of dedicated renewable energy capacity.
  • Attract investments exceeding ₹8 lakh crore.
  • Create over 6 lakh jobs.
  • Reduce fossil-fuel imports by over ₹1 lakh crore annually.
  • Avoid nearly 50 MMT of CO₂ emissions every year.

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Types of Hydrogen (UPSC CSE Pre 2023)

• Green Hydrogen: It is produced using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind through electrolysis of water, with emissions not exceeding 2 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg of hydrogen.
  • Green hydrogen is expected to play a prominent role in decarbonising heavy industries, including oil refineries, steel mills and fertiliser plants. Green hydrogen is produced by breaking down water in an electrolyser using only renewable energy, resulting in no carbon emissions.
• Grey Hydrogen: It is produced from fossil fuels through natural gas reforming or coal gasification, with carbon emissions released directly into the atmosphere.
• Blue Hydrogen: It is produced from fossil fuels but incorporates Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies to capture and store a large share of the generated carbon emissions.

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