In a decisive step towards building a sustainable energy future, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, launched India’s first Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme on Tuesday. The initiative marks a foundational milestone in the country’s commitment to promoting green hydrogen as a key pillar of its clean energy ambitions.
Designed to ensure transparency, traceability, and credibility in hydrogen production, the certification scheme will serve as a cornerstone for establishing a robust domestic and international green hydrogen market.
MSMEs at the Forefront of India’s Energy Revolution
Addressing a national workshop in New Delhi, the minister underlined the vital role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in realizing the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production and export by 2030.
“MSMEs are the backbone of India’s economy and will also be the torchbearers of our energy transition,” Joshi noted, adding that the government is focused on innovation-led growth to empower smaller enterprises with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the green energy sector.
Workshop Highlights Collaborative Models, Indigenous Innovation
The national workshop saw participation from over 300 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, international agencies, and MSME representatives. Key sessions addressed the integration of MSMEs in green hydrogen value chains, decentralised hydrogen production models, and indigenisation of critical components such as electrolysers and bipolar plates.
Panellists from research institutions and corporations explored R&D collaborations, underlining the importance of local innovation in creating globally competitive solutions.
Capacity Building, Finance Access Key to MSME Participation
Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), highlighted significant strides under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and stressed the need to strengthen capacity building, financial access, and technology transfer mechanisms to enable MSMEs to meaningfully participate.
Financial institutions, including the World Bank, IREDA, and India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL), discussed blended finance mechanisms, de-risking strategies, and green credit lines tailored for MSMEs.
Biomass-to-Hydrogen: A Decentralised Opportunity
One of the workshop’s technical sessions delved into thermochemical and biochemical conversion of biomass to hydrogen, particularly in rural industries. Experts showcased use cases that align with circular economy principles, highlighting how decentralised models could help meet local energy demand while ensuring sustainability.
Towards a Greener, Self-Reliant Future
With this certification scheme, India has taken a strategic step toward building a transparent green hydrogen ecosystem, where MSMEs are not just participants but enablers of innovation and scale. The roadmap to 2030 is ambitious, but with strong institutional support and stakeholder collaboration, the mission is well on its way to creating a cleaner and self-reliant energy future for India.
