Pralhad Joshi launches Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme

• 30 Apr 2025
• 483 Views

On 29 April 2025, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI). According to him, the scheme is a foundational step towards forming a robust framework for certifying production of green hydrogen and ensuring transparency, credibility and traceability in the market.

Delivering the inaugural address at the one-day National Workshop on opportunities for “Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain,” Joshi reaffirmed the government's focus on innovation-led growth. He stressed that MSMEs will be central to India's energy transition, thanks to their inventive approaches and region-specific solutions. He pointed out that these enterprises are key to fulfilling the goals of the Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to create a self-sufficient green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosted the workshop to identify opportunities and discuss how MSMEs can contribute to the growth of India’s green hydrogen sector. The event brought over 300 participants together from across the stakeholder spectrum incl. MSMEs, policymakers, tech providers, industry bodies and global partners.

MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi shared some updates on the progress that has been made under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. He underlined the need to enhance capabilities, ease access to finance, and strengthen tech collaborations to help MSMEs to thrive in this emerging sector. He also made reaffirmation of the Ministry’s commitment to establishing institutional and infrastructural support for green hydrogen, positioning MSMEs as a vital part of the journey.

The workshop included four technical sessions that gave coverage in areas such as Technology Collaboration for MSMEs, Business Opportunities in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain, Decentralised Hydrogen Production through Biomass, and Catalysing Investments in the Green Hydrogen Ecosystem. Panel discussions delved into collaborative R&D models, localisation of key components like electrolysers and bipolar plates, and the involvement of knowledge institutions.

MSMEs and Green Hydrogen Ecosystem

A major theme was how MSMEs could be integrated into larger green hydrogen initiatives. Global experts and business leaders discussed regarding viable business models and market opportunities and also, placed emphasis on the need for structured engagement with MSMEs. Case studies for converting biomass into hydrogen using thermochemical and biochemical methods were presented, esp. in rural industries. These models showed promise for meeting local energy needs while lining up with goals of circular economy.

Representatives serving financial institutions like the World Bank, IREDA, KfW and IIFCL spoke about strategies for mitigation of risks, blended finance options and how important designing green credit lines that are MSME friendly is.

"The workshop marked an important step towards mainstreaming MSMEs in India’s clean energy transition and showed MNRE’s commitment towards building an inclusive, technology-driven, and decentralized green hydrogen economy. The workshop saw active participation from MSMEs, who showed strong interest in entering the green hydrogen sector, particularly in areas such as component manufacturing, operations and maintenance services, and rural hydrogen generation," said the ministry.

Participants at the workshop also called for standardized processes, collaborative innovation platforms and the creation of Green Hydrogen Clusters in order to help MSMEs scale with efficiency. The need for predictable policy frameworks and clear market signals for boosting private investment was also underlined. Experts reiterated the strong potential of our nation to become a manufacturing hub for green hydrogen technologies, particularly when it comes to electrolysers and fuel cells.

Sources: 

• PSU Watch
• ET Energy World