Trade will benefit from common international standards for the safety of transporting and storing large volumes of hydrogen and having appropriate certificate of origin, according to Alok Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Power.
Alok Kumar was delivering the keynote address at the two-day workshop on “Green Hydrogen”, anchored by NTPC. The virtual event saw the congregation of leading subject experts from BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
He added that the government and industry must work together to ensure existing regulations are not an unnecessary barrier to investment. Trade will benefit from common international standards and BRICS countries could work together on these aspects, Alok Kumar said.
India has launched an ambitious National Hydrogen Mission to introduce hydrogen purchase obligations for fertilizers, refineries involving private sector in transparent and competitive manner to produce green hydrogen.
Participants shared their insights and professional views on the subject as well as the latest developments going on in their countries in the area of green hydrogen—one of the most popular and demanding fields in the current times and considered to be the next carrier of energy.
During the welcome remarks, Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC Ltd said that the five BRICS countries share a common vision of sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. Strengthening energy cooperation and ensuring affordable, reliable, accessible and secure energy for all, has always been a strategic area of importance in the agenda of BRICS countries.
He added that for India, the transition to a hydrogen economy will not only reduce India’s import dependency on hydrocarbon fuels but also provide clean air to its citizens, reduce GHG emissions in absolute terms and fulfill India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
These BRICS countries are capable of ensuring that there is net-zero carbon emission since the cost of deployment of these emerging technologies in these countries is a fraction in comparison to that of other developed countries. The prevention of CO2 will have a worldwide positive impact.
NTPC’s initiatives
NTPC is pioneering green hydrogen initiatives in India. NTPC which is undertaking extensive study, experimentations in the areas of carbon capture and hydrogen has also announced a few pilot projects on green hydrogen.
Green hydrogen is of great topical interest to all the countries including BRICS as it has a great amount of potential to ensure sustainable energy supply, increase the level of energy availability and minimize the negative impact on the environment.
Featured photograph, sourced from Press Information Bueau (PIB), shows screenshot of the virtual event.
