The Government of India has initiated five pilot projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to explore the use of hydrogen in buses and trucks. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had earlier issued guidelines for implementing these pilot projects in the transportation sector, inviting proposals for various hydrogen-based vehicles, routes, and refuelling stations. After careful review, the Ministry sanctioned five pilot projects, which involve 37 vehicles (15 hydrogen fuel cell-based and 22 hydrogen internal combustion engine-based vehicles) and 9 hydrogen refuelling stations.
India’s Green Hydrogen Pilot Projects to Revolutionize Transportation
These vehicles will be deployed across 10 different routes, including Greater Noida – Delhi – Agra, Bhubaneshwar – Konark – Puri, Ahmedabad – Vadodara – Surat, and others. Major companies like TATA Motors, Reliance Industries, NTPC, Ashok Leyland, BPCL, and IOCL have been awarded the projects, with the Government of India providing a financial support of ₹208 crores. These projects are expected to be commissioned within the next 18-24 months, laying the foundation for large-scale hydrogen technology adoption in India’s transportation sector.
The primary goal of these pilot projects is to develop commercially viable technologies for hydrogen use in transport, including hydrogen refuelling stations. These initiatives will help demonstrate the safe and effective operation of hydrogen-powered vehicles, assess their performance, and evaluate their economic viability under real-world conditions. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in January 2023 with a ₹19,744 crore outlay until FY 2029-30, aims to decarbonize India’s economy, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and position India as a leader in the global clean energy transition. This mission aligns with India’s ambition to become self-reliant through clean energy by 2047.
