Kerala's Green Hydrogen Initiative: A Step Towards Carbon Neutrality

Kerala is formulating a green hydrogen policy, with discussions underway at various levels. The state plans to implement a hydrogen valley project as part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, despite the high costs of green hydrogen.

The Kerala government is actively developing a green hydrogen policy, with discussions advancing at multiple levels, according to Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty. A draft policy, prepared by the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), has been submitted for governmental approval, he revealed in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

Krishnankutty announced that the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has endorsed the state's ambitious hydrogen valley innovation cluster project. With a budget of 133.18 crore, this endeavor forms part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and is among only four such projects sanctioned across the nation.

The pilot phase targets producing 57 tonnes of green hydrogen, which will power heavy transport vehicles and houseboats among other applications. Despite being costly, green hydrogen is deemed crucial for reducing Kerala's carbon emissions and is central to attaining the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, the minister emphasized.