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India defines green hydrogen, eyeing a global lead. Can this move cut emissions, save billions, and reshape the country’s energy narrative by 2030?

India has taken a significant step towards clearer guidelines on green hydrogen production. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced on Saturday that for hydrogen to be considered "green", its production must result in no more than two kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions for every kilogram of hydrogen produced.

This announcement provides much-needed direction on what qualifies as green hydrogen in India. The ministry stated, "India now joins a handful of nations that have defined what Green Hydrogen means," emphasizing which emissions are part of this calculation.

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With a vision to become a world leader in green hydrogen production, India is setting its sights on producing 5 million metric tons of this clean fuel by 2030. This goal could lead to a reduction of roughly 50 million metric tons in carbon emissions and help the country save over $12 billion in fossil fuel imports.

This is an ambitious target for India, especially since most of the hydrogen currently used in the country is derived from fossil fuels.

While hydrogen is celebrated for emitting only water when used as a fuel, the process to produce it can be a different story. Hydrogen is made in plants that break down water molecules. The real challenge is the energy sources used in this process and the associated carbon emissions.

Earlier in the year, sources informed Reuters that India, in its role leading the Group of 20 this year, had been considering a stricter limit of 1 kg CO2 for green hydrogen. This is notably lower than the latest announcement.

Even though India isn't expected to start its green hydrogen production until 2026, the nation is already in discussions with the European Union, Japan, and others. The goal? To begin exporting this promising fuel.

Samira is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, but deep inside, her heart is a nomad! She's a state champion debater, a public speaker, a scriptwriter, a theater actress, but most importantly — A GREEN CITIZEN! She thinks of herself as a storyteller who thrives on enjoying the life at fullest and telling everyone the tales of life.

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