India launches Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI)

On April 29, 2025, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI), which establishes a framework for certifying green hydrogen production. The scheme covers companies that have applied for government incentives to produce green hydrogen and its derivatives, but does not include exporters who have not utilized these incentives.

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The government has introduced Green Hydrogen Certification scheme for producers, aimed at establishing a transparent and credible framework for certifying green hydrogen. The initiative was unveiled during the National Workshop on Opportunities for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain, according to an official statement. The workshop focused on identifying opportunities and highlighting the vital role MSMEs can play in building India’s green hydrogen ecosystem. The event saw participation from over 300 delegates representing a wide range of stakeholders, including MSMEs, policymakers, technology providers, industry associations, and international partners.

According to Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi, the initiative will promote traceability and market trust in green hydrogen production.  The scheme covers companies that have received government incentives for producing green hydrogen and its derivatives but excludes exporters who haven’t used these incentives. As per the green hydrogen standards, any emission source must meet a ‘materiality threshold’ of 1% of total emissions.

The renewable energy required for the production process can be sourced from renewable projects and delivered through either dedicated or shared transmission lines.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to make India a global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. By 2030, the mission is expected to help build 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen capacity annually, add 125 GW of renewable energy, generate over 6 lakh jobs, attract more than ₹8 lakh crore in investments, reduce fossil fuel imports worth ₹1 lakh crore, and cut down about 50 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.