The New Era of Energy has Now Begun: Shripad Y. Naik

NEW DELHI : Addressing the valedictory session of three-dayInternationalConference onGreen Hydrogen (ICGH-2024),Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Y. Naikunderlined that India hasushered into a new era of energy transition driven by a shared commitment to advancing the Hydrogen Agenda.Shri Naik emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to advance clean and green energy. He highlighted the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores as a comprehensive strategy, encompassing demand creation, production, R&D, infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, international partnerships, and most importantly, skill development and job creation. In addition,Shri Naik underscored the importance of youth, affirming that by empowering the youth with necessary skills, India is equipping them to be the architects of a sustainable future.

The conference, held from September 11-13, 2024,inaugurated by Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of New & Renewable Energy; Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distributionattracted over 8,500 delegates, including 3,000 plus youth and students.It also featured an exhibition showcasing innovations, technological advancements in the Green Hydrogen sector. The Hydrogen powered bus and hydrogen internal combustion engine(H2ICE) powered truck showcased at the exhibition caught the eyes of the visitor.

Addressing the valedictory session,Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to theGovernment of India, said, “Our commitment to Green Hydrogen is not just about meeting emission targets, which of course is important. It is about seizing a historic opportunity to redefine our energy systems, create new jobs, and secure a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations”, he said. During hisaddress, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Bhupinder S. Bhalla highlighted the transformative potential of Green Hydrogen for India’s energy sector. He said, “Green Hydrogen is not just a new energy source, it is a pathway towards a future where clean energy is the norm, and industries are decarbonized.” Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,Government of India stressed on the importance of international cooperation and innovative technologies in advancing the Green Hydrogen economy. “

Ms. Jyoti Vij, Director General of FICCI, extended her gratitude to all participants and stakeholders, acknowledging their contributions to the conference’s success.  Earlier during the day, along with other senior government officials,Mr. Ajay Yadav, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energyemphasized the whole of the government approach in advancing the National Green Hydrogen Mission, He highlighted that as many as 13 states are having policy provisions for supporting Green Hydrogen ecosystem. He pointed out the mission will lead to creation 6,00, 000 lakh green jobs.

The plenary sessions held during the conference highlighted the initiatives and advancements from the USA, the European Union, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, and the global perspective as presented by IRENA. These sessions underscored the importance of international collaboration and knowledge exchange in accelerating the Green Hydrogen economy. The first day of the conference emphasized Green Hydrogen’s crucial role in shaping India’s energy future and promoting economic growth and sustainability.The second day highlighted youth involvement, with Ms. Saina Nehwal inspiring young participants. Additionally, Nandlal Gupta from IIT Bombay won the GH2Thon Hackathon, and an interactive poster competition showcased innovations in Green Hydrogen.

On the third and final day, the conference highlighted India’s dedication to international collaboration and innovation. A key feature was “The Hydrogen Challenge: Test Your Elemental Knowledge,” an engaging quiz moderated by Deepak Taneja, Deputy General Manager at Indian Oil. The quiz, which included seven rounds on Green Hydrogen topics, saw Nandlal Gupta and Chandramani Rai from IIT Bombay emerge as winners. They were followed by Abhishek Jamdar and Oshnik Maurya from ICT Mumbai in second place, Trashna Thakur and Vishnu TS from IIT Bombay in third, and Vivek Panchal and Dipesh Pimpale from Onjubilant Services LTD in fourth. The interactive quiz also featured audience participation, enhancing delegates’ understanding of Green Hydrogen innovations and policies. In addition, the poster competition showcased outstanding research in the Green Hydrogen field. The winners included Kapil Kedar Tirpude and Trashna Thakur from IIT Bombay. Akash Kumar Burolia and Dr. Swati Neogi from IIT Kharagpur and Ardra S Darsan and Dr. A Murugan from CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research received accolades.

US was the official partner country in this second edition of the International Green Hydrogen Conference (ICGH-2024). The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in association with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research,organisedthe 2^nd International Conference of Green Hydrogen 2024 (ICGH2024). The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and EY are the implementation and knowledge partners, respectively. FICCI is the industry partner.