By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, SEP 13, 2024: THE second day of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2024), held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, witnessed the announcement of India's exclusive partnership with the European Hydrogen Week, scheduled to be held in November 2024. The day highlighted India's intent to address the green regulations of EU to boost exports. In addition, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between Chane Terminal from Netherlands and ACME Cleantech from India for Ammonia import terminals.

The event also saw sessions bringing out the perspectives of the EU, Australia, and the Netherlands about the scope and challenges in the Green Hydrogen sector. The EU session chaired by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India with Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe focused on the role of green hydrogen as a crucial component in global decarbonization efforts. The discussion highlighted that the European Union (EU) is focused on reforming its Emission Trading System (ETS) to help price carbon effectively, to encourage the scaling up of hydrogen as a competitor to fossil fuels.

Following this, Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India spoke to Dr. Patrick Hartley, Leader of the CSIRO Hydrogen Industry Mission who shared that collaboration, both domestically and internationally, is essential, particularly with countries like India, to drive industry scale-up, technology advancement, and workforce development. Regulatory frameworks, storage solutions, and large-scale renewable energy access remain critical challenges for the hydrogen sector.

The Netherlands session chaired by Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India provided an in-depth overview of the Netherlands' comprehensive strategy for advancing global hydrogen advancements. The session was attended by Han Feenstra, Coordinator of the Hydrogen International Programme and Senior Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy; Mark-Simon Benjamins, Business Manager at Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V; and HE Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

In addition to the plenary sessions, the day featured a range of engaging activities, with the Youth Session being a highlight. Ajay Yadav, Secretary of MNRE, delivered a welcome address emphasizing the role of energy in empowering economies and societies. He encouraged the youth to innovate and take leadership roles in the green hydrogen sector, highlighting their potential to shape India's energy future. Professor Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, added special remarks, noting, "As we look toward the future, the green hydrogen sector stands out as a key driver of progress, with projections indicating that it will create over four crore jobs by 2050. This remarkable growth not only highlights the sector's potential to significantly advance environmental sustainability but also underscores its crucial role in fueling economic development and innovation."

Proceeding with the session, Saina Nehwal, Indian badminton player and Olympic Medallist & World Champion, captured the essence of the conversation by delivering an inspiring address stating "In our pursuit of a sustainable future, it's essential to think about the world we are leaving behind for the generations to come. The impact of climate change is a pressing reality, and as athletes and leaders, we have a responsibility to inspire positive change. Just as our sport has grown and thrived, so too can our commitment to a healthier environment."

As part of the youth session, a panel of leaders, including Shriya Rai, Mr. Sailesh Singhal, Mr. Abhiir Bhalla, Viveka Jani, Mr. Ashley Wilkinson, and Sneha Shahi, moderated by Priyanka Sahasrabudhe , highlighted the crucial role of youth in climate action and sustainability. They discussed the significance of green hydrogen, decarbonization, and renewable energy, aligning with India's goal to become the third-largest producer of renewable energy by 2030.

In his address, Bhupinder S. Bhalla, Secretary, MNRE inspired the audience by saying, "Our goal is to ignite a passion for sustainability and innovation among the youth. By working together and embracing new technologies, we can drive meaningful change and build a brighter, greener future for all." Echoing this commitment, Mr. Nishaanth Balashanmugam, Director of GH2 India highlighted the transformative potential of green hydrogen, noting, "Green hydrogen is the only solution to almost 18 to 20% of the world's carbon emissions," and urged, "Together, we should all work towards a cleaner future, and you can contribute by playing your role in this." These remarks reflect a unified dedication to advancing sustainable practices and engaging youth in the global effort against climate change. The session concluded with a vote of thanks from Abhay Bakre, Mission Director of NGHM, MNRE.

In parallel to this, a GH2Thon Hackathon was also organized, where participants presented their innovative solutions for advancing green hydrogen technology. Nandlal Gupta from IIT Bombay was named the winner. Addressing the session, Ajay Yadav, Secretary, MNRE remarked that "GH2THON is a visionary initiative, harnessing the innovation of startups, researchers, and technical experts to shape the future of hydrogen technology. As a first-of-its-kind event, it reflects our commitment to the Green Hydrogen Mission, empowering the next generation to lead India's transition toward a sustainable, green energy future."

Over 100 stalls from industry players and public companies is showcasing latest technologies and innovation in the field of green hydrogen value chain. The event is graced by over 2000 national and international delegates involving academicians, industry experts start-ups, policy makers and diplomats. On the sidelines of the exhibition, the day also witnessed a national poster competition where participants showcased their ideas and innovation in building a sustainable future.

The day also featured two Country Roundtables on Singapore & South Korea, an industry roundtable for the India-US Hydrogen Taskforce, and a breakthrough roundtable on Hydrogen, all of which fostered deeper international collaboration and strategic dialogues.

As ICGH-2024 progresses, it continues to be a significant platform for driving forward green hydrogen technologies and establishing vital partnerships for a sustainable future.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in association with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, are organising the 2nd International Conference of Green Hydrogen 2024 (ICGH2024). The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and EY are the implementation and knowledge partners, respectively. FICCI is the industry partner.