Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen via video message today, urging greater global cooperation to advance the Green Hydrogen sector. He welcomed dignitaries to the event and highlighted the world’s critical transformation, emphasizing that the effects of climate change are being felt now, not just in the future. “The time for action is here and now,” the Prime Minister stated, stressing the importance of energy transition and sustainability in global policy discussions.
PM Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to creating a cleaner and greener planet, noting that India was among the first G20 nations to meet its Paris Agreement commitments, achieving the targets nine years ahead of the 2030 deadline. He also pointed to significant progress over the past decade, with India’s non-fossil fuel capacity increasing by nearly 300% and solar energy capacity growing by over 3,000%. The Prime Minister emphasized that India is not resting on these achievements but is looking to strengthen existing solutions and explore new, innovative areas, such as Green Hydrogen.
“Green Hydrogen is emerging as a promising addition to the world’s energy landscape,” he said, adding that it can help decarbonize industries that are difficult to electrify, such as refineries, fertilizers, steel, and heavy-duty transportation. He also mentioned its potential as a storage solution for surplus renewable energy. PM Modi highlighted the launch of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023, which aims to make the country a global hub for the production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of international partnerships to promote Green Hydrogen’s role in decarbonization. He called for collective efforts to scale up production, minimize costs, and build the necessary infrastructure, urging global investment in research and innovation. Referring to the G20 Summit held in India in September 2023, Modi mentioned the adoption of five high-level voluntary principles on Hydrogen, which are helping create a unified roadmap for the sector.
PM Modi encouraged domain experts and the scientific community to lead the way in addressing challenges in the Green Hydrogen sector. He called on scientists and innovators to propose public policy changes and explore critical questions such as improving the efficiency of electrolysers, using seawater and municipal wastewater for production, and applying Green Hydrogen in public transport, shipping, and inland waterways. He expressed confidence that the conference would drive meaningful exchanges on these issues.
Reflecting on humanity’s history of overcoming challenges through collective and innovative solutions, the Prime Minister said, “We can achieve anything when we are together.” He concluded by extending his best wishes to all participants and urged them to accelerate the development and deployment of Green Hydrogen, reinforcing the need for collaboration to build a greener and more sustainable world.