The conference aims to foster global collaboration and innovation in the green hydrogen sector
New Delhi is set to host the highly anticipated International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023) from July 5 to 7, 2023. It is being organised by the Government of India in collaboration with several ministries and scientific bodies.

The conference seeks to bring together top researchers, business leaders, and stakeholders from all over the world to discuss the most recent developments and up-and-coming innovations in the green hydrogen industry.

With a primary focus on establishing a comprehensive green hydrogen ecosystem, the conference will delve into various aspects of the value chain, including production, storage, distribution, and downstream applications. Participants will get the chance to investigate novel approaches and have talked about green finance, upskilling human resources, and startup projects. The event will also promote the sharing of global best practices, enabling participants to share knowledge.

The meeting is in line with India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, a major project by the Indian government to meet the nation's ambitious goal of having net-zero emissions by 2070. With the goal of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, the conference will be crucial in identifying the route for building a strong green hydrogen sector in India.

Secretary of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Bhupinder Singh Bhalla underlined the value of industry engagement at all stages of the green hydrogen value chain during a curtain-raiser news conference. He emphasized that in order for India to meet its production goals, it must employ the right technology for the manufacture of electrolyzers and other components.

Bhalla further said that 48 green hydrogen and green ammonia projects have been officially announced in India, demonstrating the increased interest of the industry in this field.

The upcoming conference will serve as a forum for useful discussuons as well as serve to direct ongoing research and development initiatives, including the creation of standards and laws. The Bureau of Indian Standards and other pertinent institutions have already received a report from a working group on standards for green hydrogen manufacturing that contains over 100 recommendations.

One of the crucial objectives of the conference is to define green hydrogen and develop global standards for its implementation.

Bhalla acknowledged that different countries and organizations have proposed various definitions for green hydrogen, and India aims to contribute to the development of a global standard. He emphasized the need for a clear definition that can effectively evaluate energy transitions and the adoption of green hydrogen.

The three-day conference will feature more than 25 in-depth sessions, with an expected attendance of over 1,500 delegates from India and abroad. Perspectives from different regions, including the Americas, Australia, Africa, Europe, and India, will be shared during the conference. In addition to plenary talks, expert panels, and technical deliberations, the event will also showcase demonstrations, and prototypes, and facilitate business-to-business and business-to-government meetings.

The conference will address several key topics, including hydrogen production, storage, and distribution, fuel cells and electrolyzers, hydrogen applications in mobility and industries, and the role of disruptive science and technology. It will also feature lectures presenting perspectives from Japan, Australia, and Europe, along with panel discussions involving industry stakeholders.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched by the Government of India earlier this year, is poised to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production, utilization, and export. By fostering research and development in this field, India aims to create sustainable energy solutions, generate employment opportunities, and achieve economic growth in the clean energy sector.

To support the development of the green hydrogen sector, the government is actively working on incentive schemes for electrolyzer manufacturing and green hydrogen production. Incentives will be provided based on the setup of green hydrogen plants and consumption under a demand aggregation model.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has finalized the draft for these incentive schemes, which will be rolled out soon. The total incentives offered under the National Green Hydrogen Mission amount to over Rs. 17,000 crores until 2030, with plans for phased implementation to ensure continuous learning and evolution.