The opening day of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, concluded on a high note, drawing significant participation from global stakeholders. The three-day event, running from 11th to 13th September, 2024, aims to foster collaboration and innovation in the green hydrogen space, with a focus on establishing India as a leader in the global green hydrogen ecosystem.

The day commenced with the inauguration of an exhibition showcasing innovations in the green hydrogen sector by Hon’ble Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, and Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep S. Puri. The exhibition will remain open for public viewing until 13th September 2024.

Conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who, in his virtual keynote address, highlighted India’s commitment to build a cleaner, greener planet to become a global leader in green hydrogen, positioning it as the cornerstone of the country’s decarbonization efforts. Reflecting on the National Green Hydrogen Mission launched in January 2023, he remarked, “We aim to position India as a global hub for the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in 2023, is a critical step toward realizing this ambition. It will drive innovation, build infrastructure, stimulate industry growth, and attract investment in the green hydrogen sector.”

Alluding to the government’s commitment to green and sustainable practices, Hon’ble Minister, New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India, Shri Pralhad Joshi, highlighted, “This mission not only has the potential to attract ₹8 lakh crore in investments and generate 6 lakh jobs but will also significantly reduce reliance on imported natural gas and ammonia, leading to savings of ₹1 lakh crore.”

Hon’ble Minister, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, aligned himself with the government’s vision of decarbonization through green hydrogen, stating, “India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 involves a multifaceted approach, including a significant focus on green hydrogen. Our goal of producing 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030 is a critical step in decarbonizing our economy.”

Shri Bhupinder S Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, highlighted Green Hydrogen’s role as a clean energy source with zero CO2 emissions and its diverse applications across multiple sectors and discussed the budget allocated for pilot projects in the transportation and shipping sectors, the creation of green hydrogen hubs, research and development, skill development, as well as components like storage and transportation.

Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, shared insights on the role of scientific research in advancing green hydrogen technology.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, who recognized the critical role of all stakeholders in building a robust green hydrogen ecosystem and expressed her gratitude for their contributions.

Following this, both Prof. Ajay K. Sood & Shri Bhupinder S Bhalla also shared their India perspective in India session highlighting the significant strides the country is making in the green hydrogen space. This was followed with a separate plenary discourse on the US Perspective, chaired by TK Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, addressing questions from the audience on technological considerations in a rapidly transforming green energy sector.

The other sessions spanning throughout the day focused on India emergence as a global manufacturing hub for hydrogen electrolyzers and components how with the right policy support and industry collaboration, India can capitalize on this opportunity to become a leading player in the global hydrogen economy.

In addition to the keynotes, the day witnessed the CEO Roundtable, which brought together industry leaders from the energy, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. The roundtable provided a platform for discussions on strategic investments and partnerships needed to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen technologies.

The event was graced by several distinguished attendees, including Mr. Tarun Kapur, Advisor, PMO; Mr. S J Haider, Additional Chief Secretary, Gujarat; Mr. Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, National Green Hydrogen Mission; Mr. Alok Sharma, Director (R&D), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL); Mr. Pawan Mulukutla, Executive Director, World Resources Institute (WRI) India; Mr. R. R. Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow and Program Director, Green Shipping, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI); Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director, U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, USA; and Reta Jo Lewis President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States

Over 100 stalls from industry players and public companies are showcasing latest technologies and innovation in the field of green hydrogen value chain. The event is graced by over 2000 national and international delegates involving academicians, industry experts start-ups, policy makers and diplomats.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in association with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, are organising the 2nd International Conference of Green Hydrogen 2024 (ICGH2024). The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and EY are the implementation and knowledge partners, respectively. FICCI is the industry partner.

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