The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) in a push towards building a robust green hydrogen ecosystem in India. The announcement was made by Hon’ble Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, during the inaugural address of a one-day National Workshop on “Opportunities for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain” held in New Delhi on April 29, 2025.
The workshop, which saw participation from over 300 delegates including MSMEs, policymakers, technology providers, industry associations, and international partners, aimed to explore and discuss the crucial role of MSMEs in the development of India’s green hydrogen sector.
The minister emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to innovation-led growth, highlighting that MSMEs, with their innovative capabilities and localized solutions, will form the backbone of India’s energy transition. He underscored the critical role these enterprises will play in achieving the National Green Hydrogen Mission’s objective of a self-reliant green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030.
The newly launched Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) is envisioned as a foundational step towards establishing a transparent, traceable, and credible framework for certifying green hydrogen production in the country.
The Secretary, MNRE, highlighted key achievements in the implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. He stressed the importance of capacity building, facilitating finance, and strengthening technology linkages to empower MSMEs to actively participate in this emerging industrial landscape.
Workshop Explores MSME Integration into Green Hydrogen
The workshop featured four focused technical sessions:
- Panelists discussed R&D collaboration models, the indigenization of crucial components like bipolar plates and electrolysers, and the role of knowledge institutions in supporting MSME involvement.
- Experts from international agencies and corporate leaders outlined business models and market opportunities for MSMEs within large-scale green hydrogen projects, advocating for systematic integration strategies.
- Expert speakers presented use cases on thermochemical and biochemical conversion of biomass to hydrogen, exploring their potential application in rural industries and promoting circular economy principles.
- Financial institutions, including the World Bank, IREDA, KfW, and IIFCL, discussed de-risking strategies, blended finance mechanisms, and the need for accessible green credit lines for MSMEs.
The workshop underscored the strong interest of MSMEs in entering the green hydrogen sector, particularly in areas such as component manufacturing, operations and maintenance services, and rural hydrogen generation. Participants emphasized the need for standardized protocols, shared innovation platforms, and the formation of Green Hydrogen Clusters to enable MSMEs to combine capacities and benefit from economies of scale. The importance of clear demand signals and long-term policy stability to encourage private investment was also highlighted. Experts also noted India’s significant potential to become a manufacturing hub for green hydrogen technologies, especially electrolysers and fuel cells.
National Green Hydrogen Mission: Aims and Objectives
The Government of India is actively implementing the National Green Hydrogen Mission with the overarching goal of establishing India as a global hub for the production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. By 2030, the mission is expected to achieve:
- Green Hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 Million Metric Tonne per annum.
- Associated renewable energy capacity addition of approximately 125 GW.
- Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments.
- Creation of over Six lakh jobs.
- Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports exceeding Rs. One lakh crore.
- Abatement of nearly 50 Million Metric Tonne of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
