India considers UAE’s support in developing green hydrogen industry

The UAE’s experience and know-how would help India in its green hydrogen program, authorities and experts said, following a new cooperation agreement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.

Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister R.K. Singh visited the UAE over the weekend and signed a memorandum on green hydrogen development and investment with his Emirati counterpart, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Al-Mazrouei.

Green hydrogen, also called renewable hydrogen, can be used as fuel. It is produced from the electrolysis of water in a process powered by renewable energy and thus does not generate polluting carbon emissions.

All over the world, green hydrogen is emerging as a future alternative to fossil fuels, and the UAE has been one of the pioneers in developing it. 

Earlier this month, India approved an incentive plan of 197.4 billion rupees ($2.4 billion) to promote the green hydrogen industry and become a major exporter in the field.

The program, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aims to reduce production costs and increase the scale of the industry by 2030, as it targets the production of 5 million tons of green hydrogen generating 125 GW of power a year.

It is expected to cut about 50 million tons of annual carbon emissions, as the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases seeks to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

The plan is also forecast to help reduce India’s dependence on fossil fuels and cut import costs by 1 trillion rupees.

The agreement with the UAE is seen as a step forward in implementing these plans.

The cooperation is likely to be beneficial for both countries.