India could miss 2030 green hydrogen production goals, top official says – TradingView

Report on India’s Green Hydrogen Production and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

India’s export-focused green hydrogen projects are facing delays due to global policy uncertainties, necessitating a revision of the nation’s production targets. This development impacts the timeline for achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). In response, the government is intensifying its focus on building a robust domestic market to ensure continued progress towards its clean energy and industrial innovation objectives, in line with SDG 9.

Revised Production Targets and Impact on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

The national production target for green hydrogen has been adjusted, presenting a revised timeline for advancing SDG 7. The new projections are as follows:

• The 2030 production target is now estimated at approximately 3 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), a reduction from the original 5 MMTPA goal.
• The original target of 5 MMTPA is now projected to be achieved by 2032.

This delay in scaling up clean fuel production could temper the pace of India’s transition to a sustainable energy system, a core objective of SDG 7.

Causal Factors: Global Policy and its Effect on SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

The delays are primarily attributed to external factors, highlighting the critical need for international cooperation as envisioned in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Key uncertainties include:

• Delayed decisions by European nations regarding their renewable energy targets, which creates ambiguity over future demand for green hydrogen exports from India.
• Postponement of a significant global decarbonization milestone for the maritime shipping industry, which reduces near-term demand prospects for green fuels in large vessels.

Domestic Strategy to Advance SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

To mitigate the impact of external uncertainties and maintain momentum towards SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), the Indian government is implementing a strategy focused on strengthening the domestic market. Key initiatives include:

1. Boosting immediate domestic demand from sectors such as shipping and methanol production.
2. Collaborating with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to issue new tenders for supplying green hydrogen to refineries, creating a stable internal market.
3. Assessing the connectivity and infrastructure available for new clean energy projects before issuing tenders to ensure project viability.
4. Proactively addressing the challenge of renewable energy projects that lack a designated purchaser to ensure the stability of the clean energy ecosystem.

These measures are designed to build resilient domestic infrastructure and drive decarbonization efforts, reinforcing India’s commitment to its climate goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article discusses India’s strategy and challenges in developing its green hydrogen sector, which directly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary SDGs addressed are:

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The core subject of the article is green hydrogen, a form of clean and renewable energy. The discussion revolves around its production targets, domestic consumption, and use in various sectors, which is central to ensuring access to clean energy.
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The article highlights efforts to build a stable domestic market for green hydrogen by supplying it to refineries and the methanol production industry. This involves upgrading industrial processes and building new infrastructure (“assessing the connectivity available for clean energy projects”) to support a new, clean technology.
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: Green hydrogen is presented as a “clean fuel” and a key component of “decarbonization.” The entire initiative is an effort to combat climate change by shifting away from fossil fuels, directly aligning with the goal of taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The development of a new green hydrogen industry, including export-focused projects and building domestic consumption, represents a significant effort towards economic diversification and growth through sustainable and clean technology.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly addresses this by detailing India’s plans to produce “about 3 million metric tonnes (MMTPA) of green hydrogen by 2030.” Green hydrogen is a key component of the renewable energy mix.
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The plan to “issue additional tenders for green hydrogen supply to refineries” and boost its use in “methanol production” is a clear example of retrofitting existing industries with clean technology.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The statements from the senior government official about production targets, building a domestic market, and issuing tenders demonstrate that the development of green hydrogen is a key part of India’s national strategy to address climate change and decarbonization.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions several explicit and implicit indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Quantitative Production Targets: The most direct indicator mentioned is the volume of green hydrogen production. The article specifies a revised target of “about 3 million metric tonnes (MMTPA) of green hydrogen by 2030” and the original target of “5 MMTPA” by 2032. This directly measures progress towards Target 7.2.
   • Renewable Energy Capacity: The article mentions “over 40 gigawatts of projects” related to renewable energy. This capacity figure is a standard indicator for measuring the growth of renewable energy infrastructure, relevant to Target 7.2.
   • Sector-Specific Consumption (Implied): The article implies that progress can be measured by the adoption of green hydrogen in specific sectors. The efforts to “boost immediate demand from the shipping sector,” increase its use in “methanol production,” and supply it to “refineries” suggest that the volume of green hydrogen consumed by these industries would be a key indicator of success for Target 9.4.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.	Volume of green hydrogen produced (Target: 3 MMTPA by 2030). Renewable energy capacity of new projects (Mentioned: over 40 gigawatts).
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with greater adoption of clean… technologies.	(Implied) Volume of green hydrogen supplied to and consumed by refineries. (Implied) Adoption and use of green hydrogen in the shipping and methanol production sectors.
   SDG 13: Climate Action	13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.	Implementation of national green hydrogen production targets (3 MMTPA by 2030). Government actions such as issuing tenders for green hydrogen supply.

Source: tradingview.com