PIB TrackerIndia launches a Green Hydrogen Certification Portal to verify 'green' hydrogen
At a National Green Hydrogen Mission workshop, MNRE launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI) to certify and track genuinely low-carbon hydrogen, as states roll out dedicated hydrogen policies.
What happened
- Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI) at a national workshop on strengthening the National Green Hydrogen Mission through state policies, hubs and infrastructure.
- Developed by MNRE, the portal facilitates transparent certification and regulatory compliance under the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India.
- The Minister said six states have notified dedicated Green Hydrogen policies, seven have integrated hydrogen into existing frameworks, and four more are finalising theirs.
- He cited incentives to 15 companies for 3,000 MW/year of indigenous electrolyser manufacturing, contracts for 30,000 MTPA of green hydrogen for IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and NRL, Rs 84 crore for 100% hydrogen-injection pilots in steel, and ~Rs 208 crore for hydrogen vehicles and refuelling stations.
- He added that standards for Green Ammonia and Green Methanol have been finalised and an R&D roadmap worth Rs 113 crore supports 21 projects.
For Prelims
- National Green Hydrogen Mission: Approved by the Cabinet on 4 January 2023 with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore (including Rs 17,490 cr for the SIGHT programme), targeting at least 5 MMT of green hydrogen per year by 2030 and ~125 GW of added renewable capacity.
- Green hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity — distinct from 'grey' (from natural gas), 'blue' (grey + carbon capture) and 'brown' (from coal) hydrogen.
- SIGHT: Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition — the Mission's incentive programme for electrolyser manufacturing and green-hydrogen production.
- Certification scheme: A Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India defines the emission threshold (kg CO2 per kg of hydrogen) below which hydrogen counts as 'green', enabling MRV (measurement, reporting, verification) and credible exports.
- Electrolyser: The device that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen; indigenous electrolyser manufacturing reduces import dependence and is incentivised under SIGHT.
- Derivatives: Green ammonia and green methanol (made from green hydrogen) are key for fertiliser, shipping fuel and export markets; India is finalising their standards.
- Don't confuse: Green hydrogen (renewable-powered electrolysis) is not the same as blue/grey/brown hydrogen; the GHCI is a certification portal, not a subsidy or production scheme (that role belongs to SIGHT).
For UPSC: MNRE launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI) to certify genuinely low-carbon hydrogen under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Anchor the Mission (4 Jan 2023, Rs 19,744 cr, 5 MMT by 2030), SIGHT, the green-vs-grey/blue/brown hydrogen colour taxonomy, electrolysers, green ammonia/methanol derivatives, and certification/MRV for credible exports.
What it is NOT: Green hydrogen (renewable-powered water electrolysis) is distinct from grey (natural gas), blue (with carbon capture) and brown (coal) hydrogen. The GHCI is a certification/verification portal — it does not itself fund production; the incentive arm is the SIGHT programme under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.14 · GS3.9 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Clean-energy transition and decarbonisation — building credible green-hydrogen markets through certification, state policies and domestic manufacturing.
Substantiation (data)
GHCI launched under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (Rs 19,744 cr, 5 MMT by 2030); 3,000 MW/yr electrolyser incentives; 30,000 MTPA supply to OMCs; green ammonia/methanol standards.
Exemplification
Cite the GHCI, SIGHT incentives and hydrogen pilots in steel/mobility as examples of policy scaffolding for a hard-to-abate decarbonisation pathway.
Problematisation
High costs, the green-power and water footprint, storage/transport challenges, certification integrity and demand uncertainty constrain green hydrogen's scale-up.
Way-forward
Lower costs via electrolyser manufacturing and SIGHT, build demand mandates and hubs, ensure robust certification/MRV, and develop ammonia/methanol export markets.
Position
Government stance: certification and state policies make the National Green Hydrogen Mission credible and investable, advancing energy security and net-zero-2070.
Deploys into: Energy transition & green hydrogen (National Green Hydrogen Mission) · decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors · certification/MRV & exports · self-reliant electrolyser manufacturing (GS3.14 conservation & climate change, GS3.9 energy infrastructure).
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy · 2026-06-17 · PRID 2274212 · PIB source ↗