New Deadline Set for Green Hydrogen Mission R&D Submissions

In a significant move to promote sustainable energy, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, has launched an ambitious Research and Development (R&D) Scheme as part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Announced on March 15, 2024, the initiative is poised to revolutionize the green hydrogen sector by enhancing affordability, efficiency, safety, and reliability across its value chain – encompassing production, storage, transportation, and utilization.

With a generous budgetary allocation of Rs. 400 crores available until the end of the financial year 2025-26, the scheme is designed to bolster innovation within the green hydrogen industry. A key focus of the initiative is to bridge the gap between industry, academia, and government bodies, thereby creating a thriving ecosystem for green hydrogen technology advancements.

The comprehensive R&D program will cover every aspect of the green hydrogen value chain and aims to support projects that are not only goal-oriented and time-bound but also scalable. Recognizing the pivotal role of startups and MSMEs in driving technological innovation, the scheme also extends its support to these entities, especially those engaged in the development of indigenous technologies.

Following the announcement of the scheme guidelines, the Ministry issued a Call for Proposals on March 16, 2024, which has since garnered an enthusiastic response from various stakeholders. Acknowledging the request from several applicants for additional time to prepare and submit their proposals, the Ministry has extended the deadline to April 27, 2024. This extension is expected to ensure the submission of high-quality proposals, further enhancing the potential impact of the scheme.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission, under which this R&D Scheme falls, was inaugurated on January 4, 2023, with a total mission outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores extending up to the financial year 2029-30. This initiative represents a major step forward in India’s commitment to fostering sustainable energy sources, with the potential to significantly reduce the country’s carbon footprint and contribute to global environmental goals.