India’s Green Hydrogen Just Got Real — And That’s a Big Deal

On April 29, something important happened in Delhi. Quietly, without the fanfare that usually accompanies policy announcements here, India made a serious move in its clean energy journey. The government officially launched a Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme—a framework to verify that what’s called “green hydrogen” is, in fact, green.

This may sound like a technical step. But it’s not. It’s a leap toward building trust in markets, among investors, and with the world.

For those of us working in sustainability, this isn’t just a box checked. It’s a clear message: India wants to lead the global hydrogen conversation. And it’s getting the basics right.

What the certification scheme means?

At its core, this new scheme is about accountability. It sets clear standards to measure, monitor, and certify hydrogen that’s produced through renewable-powered electrolysis or biomass conversion.

Until now, the term “green hydrogen” was often used loosely—marketing speak without much backing. Now, hydrogen produced in India will be held to a national standard: no more than 2 kg of carbon dioxide per kg of hydrogen produced.

This gives Indian hydrogen producers a legitimate, transparent way to prove their product is clean—and that opens doors globally.

Why now?

India is setting ambitious targets under its National Green Hydrogen Mission—5 million metric tonnes of annual production by 2030, backed by nearly ₹20,000 crore in government support. But it’s not just about numbers. It’s about long-term vision.

Minister Pralhad Joshi, who launched the scheme, reminded us of something crucial: solar power once seemed far-fetched too.“In 2012, solar energy cost ₹12 per unit,” he said. “Today it’s around ₹2. That happened because of scale, skill, and speed. Green hydrogen will follow the same path.”

It’s a fair point. Cost is still a hurdle. But so was clean electricity a decade ago. The ground is shifting.

A foundation for global trade—and cleaner industries

This scheme is also laying the groundwork for something much bigger: green hydrogen exports. India has already signed an agreement with Japan to supply over 400,000 tonnes of green hydrogen derivatives like ammonia.

At the same time, the government is getting ahead of another key question: how do we reward clean production?Alongside the certification, new rules were announced for India’s carbon credit trading system—so industries using certified green hydrogen can earn offsets and potentially trade them. That’s especially important for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like steel and shipping, which are likely to be included in the scheme soon.

It’s a small detail with huge implications. It means green hydrogen won’t just be environmentally credible—it’ll be financially viable, too.

But let’s talk about water

One issue that often gets lost in the hype is water. Producing one kilogram of hydrogen through electrolysis requires about 10 litres of treated water. In a country where water stress is real, that’s not a small ask.

The new guidelines take this seriously. Hydrogen projects won’t be allowed to consume more than 5% of locally available drinking water. The focus will shift toward desalinating seawater or treating wastewater, with R&D support to make those solutions more scalable.

It’s the kind of thinking that tells us the mission isn’t just about fuel—it’s about sustainability in the full sense of the word.

So, what now?

At Triumph Sustainability, we’ve always believed that real change begins with real infrastructure—policy, standards, incentives, and transparency. That’s what makes sustainable choices scalable. That’s what gives industry the confidence to invest.

This isn’t the end of the story. Far from it. But it's a meaningful beginning. With a certification system in place, green hydrogen in India has gone from a vision to something a little more tangible, a little more real.

And for those of us working toward a greener future, that’s a good day.