India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

📌 Summary:

• Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), ACME Group signed long-term offtake deals with Japanese firms — IHI Corporation (green ammonia) and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (green methanol)
• NGHM (approved January 2023, outlay ₹19,744 crore) aims to make India a global hub for production, use and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives
• Support flows via the SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition) programme, with bidding run by SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India); ACME was awarded 370 kTPA capacity
• Deals: 405 kTPA green ammonia to IHI (backed by Japan's Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme via METI) and 100 kTPA green methanol (10-year deal) to MGC from Paradip
• Green methanol aligned with maritime decarbonisation, EU RFNBO norms and International Maritime Organization (IMO) cleaner-fuel standards
• Signals commercial maturity of India's green hydrogen sector and strengthens India-Japan clean-energy value chains

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Environment/Energy — clean-energy transition, decarbonisation, export-led green industrialisation, climate commitments.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• NGHM approved January 2023, outlay ₹19,744 crore
• SIGHT — Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition; implemented via SECI
• RFNBO — Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (EU norm)
• Green ammonia and green methanol are hydrogen derivatives used as cleaner shipping fuels

🔑 Key Term: Green hydrogen — hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity, with near-zero carbon emissions.