Union minister Joshi launches green hydrogen certification portal, urges states to boost mission

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI) on June 17, 2026, during the National ...

What Happened

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI) on June 17, 2026, during the National Workshop on "Strengthening the National Green Hydrogen Mission: Through State Policies, Hubs & Infrastructure."
The portal streamlines the certification process under the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (notified April 2025), verifying that hydrogen produced domestically meets the carbon-intensity threshold of less than 2 kg CO₂-equivalent per kg of hydrogen, averaged over 12 months.
The launch is part of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (January 2023), which carries a total outlay of ₹19,744 crore and targets production of 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen per year by 2030.
Thirteen states have now rolled out dedicated or hydrogen-inclusive policies; six states have notified standalone green hydrogen policies. Pilot projects in the steel sector are underway, backed by SIGHT scheme financial incentives.

Static Topic Bridges

Green Hydrogen: Production Pathways and "Colour" Classification

Hydrogen does not occur freely in nature in usable quantities; it must be produced from primary energy sources, and the production pathway determines its carbon intensity:

Green hydrogen: Produced by electrolyser-based water splitting (electrolysis: 2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂) powered exclusively by renewable electricity (solar, wind, hydro). Near-zero lifecycle GHG emissions. The only pathway eligible for certification under India's GHCI.
Grey hydrogen: Produced via Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) of natural gas: CH₄ + H₂O → CO + 3H₂, followed by water-gas shift. Emits ~9–12 kg CO₂/kg H₂. Currently dominant globally (~95% of hydrogen).
Blue hydrogen: Grey hydrogen production with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) applied to capture CO₂ before release. Reduces but does not eliminate emissions (~2–4 kg CO₂/kg H₂).
Pink/nuclear hydrogen: Electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.

Carbon intensity threshold for "green" designation in India: < 2 kg CO₂-equivalent per kg H₂ (12-month average)
Electrolysers are the core technology: types include Alkaline Electrolysers (proven, lower cost), Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM, higher efficiency/responsiveness), and Solid Oxide Electrolysers (high-temperature, early stage)
Water requirement: ~9 litres of water per kg of H₂ produced — a constraint in water-stressed Indian regions
Current global green hydrogen cost: ~$4–6/kg; India targets <$2/kg by 2030 (called the "2×2×2" target: 2 MMT by 2026 at $2/kg)

Connection to this news: The GHCI portal makes the carbon-intensity standard enforceable and tradeable — producers must submit production data and get a certificate before their hydrogen can be sold or counted toward mission targets.

SIGHT Scheme: Financial Architecture of the Mission

The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme is the financial backbone of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, channelling incentives through two distinct components to de-risk the nascent domestic industry:

Component I — Electrolyser manufacturing: Incentivises domestic production of electrolysers in India, reducing import dependence on European and Chinese manufacturers. Target: 1,500 MW electrolyser capacity added domestically by FY27.
Component II — Green hydrogen/ammonia production: Production-linked incentives for projects that produce green hydrogen or green ammonia domestically, particularly for export and for sectors hard to decarbonise (steel, fertilizers, refineries).

Total SIGHT outlay: part of ₹19,744 crore NGHM budget
Green ammonia (NH₃) is produced from green hydrogen + nitrogen (from air); it is a viable hydrogen carrier for export and a fertilizer feedstock
India's green ammonia potential is significant: existing fertilizer infrastructure (urea plants) can be retrofitted
Steel sector pilot significance: steel (via Direct Reduced Iron/DRI route) can use green hydrogen instead of natural gas, dramatically cutting Scope 1 emissions — key for India's decarbonisation and export competitiveness under the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

Connection to this news: The certification portal is what makes SIGHT incentive disbursement auditable — without verified certification, the government cannot confirm what it is incentivising is genuinely "green."

National Green Hydrogen Mission: Strategic Logic

India imports over $150 billion in fossil fuels annually. Green hydrogen — produced domestically using India's abundant solar and wind resources — offers a pathway to replace imported fossil fuel inputs in hard-to-abate sectors and to create an export revenue stream (green ammonia exports to the EU, Japan, South Korea). The NGHM therefore sits at the intersection of energy security, climate commitments (Net Zero by 2070 per India's Nationally Determined Contribution), and industrial policy.

Mission launched: January 2023
Total outlay: ₹19,744 crore over the mission period
Production target: 5 MMT green hydrogen/year by 2030
Expected outcomes: 600 GW renewable energy capacity integration; ₹8 lakh crore investment; 6 lakh jobs; fossil fuel import substitution worth ₹1 lakh crore/year by 2030
Certification scheme notified: April 2025 — aligns with international standards (ISO, IPHE)
State adoption: 6 states with standalone policies; 7 more with hydrogen provisions in broader energy frameworks; 13 total

Connection to this news: The GHCI portal is the institutional plumbing that converts the NGHM's ambitious targets into verifiable, bankable claims — enabling international buyers (EU, Japan) and domestic off-takers to trust that what they purchase is genuinely low-carbon.

Key Facts & Data

Portal name: Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI)
Launched by: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), June 17, 2026
Certification scheme notified: April 2025
Carbon intensity threshold: < 2 kg CO₂-equivalent per kg H₂ (12-month average)
National Green Hydrogen Mission: Launched January 2023; outlay ₹19,744 crore
Production target: 5 MMT green hydrogen per year by 2030
SIGHT programme: Funds domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green H₂/ammonia production
Green hydrogen cost (2026): ~$4–6/kg globally; India target < $2/kg by 2030
States with policies: 6 standalone + 7 incorporated = 13 states engaged
Steel sector pilot: Ongoing; green H₂ used in Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) route as natural gas substitute
India's NDC (climate): Net Zero by 2070; 50% non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030
EU-CBAM relevance: Decarbonising Indian steel and fertilizer sectors is increasingly trade-strategic as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism phases in tariffs on carbon-intensive imports