Union Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik has called upon scientists, startups, industry leaders, and young researchers to position India as a global hub for green hydrogen innovation. He was addressing the First R&D Green Hydrogen Conference under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).

Highlighting the strategic importance of green hydrogen, Naik said the initiative is not just about clean energy but also about economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and environmental responsibility. He stressed that India’s leadership in the sector will safeguard domestic industries at a time when nations are adopting cross-border carbon regulations.

Green hydrogen is expected to transform key sectors such as steel, cement, fertilizer, mobility, and shipping, while reducing import dependence, creating high-value jobs, and establishing India as a significant exporter in the global hydrogen economy.

The minister also underlined MNRE’s support for over 200 R&D projects in renewable energy, hydrogen, fuel cells, and storage technologies. Dedicated funding, incubation programmes, and testing facilities are being set up to translate research into scalable solutions.

NGHM Director Abhay Bhakre added that over 140 standards have already been published, ensuring strong regulatory and technical support for the sector’s growth.