DWN Desk | Science & Technology
Hydrogen sounds like a clean fuel, but not all hydrogen is equally clean. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) published a backgrounder on 28 October 2026 explaining why India is putting its weight behind green hydrogen. Here is the idea in plain language.
What is hydrogen, and why does it matter?
Hydrogen is an energy carrier. It stores energy and can deliver it when needed. When hydrogen is used in a fuel cell, it combines with oxygen to produce electricity, and the only by-products are water and heat, with no polluting compounds or greenhouse gases.
The catch is that pure hydrogen is not found in large amounts in nature. It has to be extracted from other substances, such as water or natural gas. How it is made decides how clean it really is. The conventional routes depend on fossil fuels and release carbon emissions.
So what makes it “green”?
Green hydrogen is hydrogen made by splitting water using renewable electricity from sources such as solar and wind power. This route emits far less carbon than fossil-based methods.
India has also set a formal definition. In August 2023, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified the Green Hydrogen Standard. Under it, hydrogen counts as green only if its emissions do not exceed 2 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kg of hydrogen, measured from production up to the plant gate and averaged over 12 months. PIB notes that this made India one of the first few countries to define green hydrogen formally.
Why India is interested
- Energy security. India has plenty of solar and wind resources, so domestic production is feasible. This diversifies the country’s energy sources.
- Fewer imports. Wider use could reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and soften the impact of global fuel price swings.
- Net-zero goal. It supports India’s target of net-zero emissions by 2070.
- New industries. PIB says the sector could open opportunities in manufacturing, attract investment, create jobs and expand exports, though these are expectations and not guaranteed outcomes.
Where it matters most
Green hydrogen is most useful in sectors where emissions are hard to cut, because they need very high heat, use chemical processes or have few alternatives to fossil fuels. PIB lists:
- Fertiliser production
- Petroleum refining
- Iron and steel manufacturing
- Heavy-duty road transport
- Shipping
Fertiliser and refining plants already use hydrogen today, so green hydrogen can take over from the fossil-based supply. It can also support lower-emission steelmaking, some transport uses and energy storage, especially where directly using electricity is difficult or impractical.
What to keep in mind
- The backgrounder describes early projects as pointing to “a promising path,” which is not the same as large-scale production already in place.
- Green hydrogen’s benefit depends entirely on the electricity being renewable. A mislabelled product would not deliver the climate gains, which is why certification matters.
- For progress numbers, targets and jobs figures, see our detailed report on the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
FAQs
What is green hydrogen?
Hydrogen produced by splitting water with renewable electricity, with very low carbon emissions.
How is it different from other hydrogen?
Conventional hydrogen is made from fossil fuels and releases carbon. Green hydrogen uses solar or wind power instead.
What counts as “green” in India?
Emissions of no more than 2 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg of hydrogen, on a well-to-gate basis, as a 12-month average, under the Green Hydrogen Standard of August 2023.
Which industries will use it?
Fertiliser, refining, steel, heavy road transport and shipping are the main ones named by PIB.
Does it produce pollution when used?
In a fuel cell, only water and heat are produced.
Source: PIB Backgrounder “Green Hydrogen: Emerging Pillar of India’s Clean Energy Transition,” posted 28 October 2026 by PIB Delhi (Release ID 2329321).