Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi – The architect of transformation of India’s energy ecosystem

RK Singh
Contd from prev issue
To promote domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence for RE equipment, Production Linked Incentives were launched in 2021 to promote manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules, including the upstream verticals such as cells, wafers, ingots and polysilicon.
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, on the 15th of August 2021, had announced the launch of National Hydrogen Mission with a target to make India a global hub for production as well as exporting Green Hydrogen.  It is estimated that about 5.6 million metric tonnes (MMT) hydrogen is produced annually in India and consumed for various industrial purposes including petroleum refining, manufacture of ammonia for fertilisers, methanol production, treatment and production of metals and food processing.   Most of this hydrogen is currently sourced from fossil fuels (steam reformation of natural gas, naptha etc).  The hydrogen market is expected to double in size to about 11 MMT per annum by 2030.
 There is wide acceptance based on techno-economic trends that use of Green Hydrogen would achieve cost-competitiveness across various potential segments within a decade or so.  It has the potential to enhance penetration of renewable energy in areas like long-range heavy-duty transportation and shipping.  It can also replace fossil fuel based feed-stocks in sectors like fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel etc.  It can be particularly useful in remote locations as a carrier of energy.  MNRE is accordingly developing a draft National Hydrogen Energy Mission document, which would lay down the Government of India’s vision, intent and strategic direction for hydrogen.  The broad vision is to develop indigenous capabilities and lower costs to speed up adoption of Green Hydrogen in various areas of potential use.
The proposed strategy is to create initial demand for Green Hydrogen through suitable mandates in sectors like fertilizer, refining and natural gas networks and simultaneously promoting indigenous manufacturing of electrolysers. This will enable economies of scale, facilitate technology development and accelerate cost reduction, thus paving the way for green hydrogen use in other sectors like long haul transport, steel production etc. The Mission would cover the key areas of creating demand and market instruments; developing indigenous manufacturing capacities, particularly in electrolysers; establishing facilitative policy and regulatory frameworks; building production and supply infrastructure; and carrying out R&D for green hydrogen.
 In order to help other countries achieve energy access, India founded the International Solar Alliance (ISA).  Today, the ISA has 98 member countries working towards facilitating the deployment of 1000 GW of Solar energy globally by 2030.  In 2018, Prime Minister Modi proposed the One Sun-One World-One Grid initiative – a global Green Grid to deliver solar energy across borders.  India is collaborating with other countries through the ISA and the World Bank to draw up an international compact for One Sun-One World-One Grid.
In 2018, the UN Environment Programme bestowed Prime Minister Modi with its top environmental honour, designating him a Champion of the Earth for his bold environmental leadership on the global stage, his championing of the ISA, and his commitment to eliminating single-use plastics in India.
In 2021, India was selected as a UN Global Champion for Energy Transition for its voluntary and action-oriented clean energy and climate action policies, and citizen-centric approach to sustainable development.  We shall continue to remain at the forefront of energy transition; setting the pace for the rest of the world by what we do.
The writer is Union Cabinet Minister for Power & New and Renewable Energy.
PIB