Power Minister meets representatives of transport sector to explore green transition

The Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, R K Singh chaired a meeting with government and industry stakeholders from the transport sector, in Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, New Delhi, on January 25, 2024. The primary focus of the discussions was on the pilot projects in transport sector, falling under the ambit of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Officials from the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and representatives from the transport sector including hydrogen dispensing entities, storage and transport agencies, component manufacturers, testing agencies and standard making bodies attended the meeting.

Addressing the stakeholders, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy emphasized the government’s commitment to energy transition and India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitment to reduce emissions intensity. He highlighted the pivotal role of the transport sector in achieving NDC targets and underscored the potential of Green Hydrogen in heavy-duty mobility applications, such as trucks and buses which deploy both fuel cell and internal combustion engine technologies.

The Union Minister said that there should be a concerted series of trials for identifying the potential of green hydrogen in transport sector, so that a national roadmap for the decarbonization of the sector through use of green hydrogen can be formulated. He advocated the use of Green Hydrogen in pilot projects and urged a comprehensive comparison of technology and cost, between hydrogen-powered vehicles and battery-electric vehicles, particularly in heavy-duty applications. Emphasizing the significance of well-informed decisions, he urged the development of a forward-thinking roadmap for the transport sector. This roadmap should include details of pilot projects, technological advancements, and the potential for cost reduction through localized manufacturing and scaling processes.

The Minister emphasized the development of indigenous technology for integrating Hydrogen into the transport sector. The ongoing trials of hydrogen-powered vehicles, including H2 ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) trucks and H2 fuel cell buses, were discussed, with a focus on channeling funds effectively to expedite pilot projects.

Industry representatives expressed concerns about challenges related to the higher cost of green hydrogen, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage cylinders. The Union Minister assured the industry that costs will naturally come down, with progress in scaling up and development of indigenous manufacturing. The participants also discussed the use of hydrogen in cars, 3-wheelers and 2-wheelers.

The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister urged concerted efforts for market development and identification of areas requiring further development. Shri Singh affirmed that, if necessary, the government would be ready to allocate additional funds beyond the already-earmarked Rs. 496 crores for the transport sector under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing hydrogen-powered vehicles and fostering sustainable solutions in the transport sector, in alignment with India’s NDC targets.