Initiatives, Programs, and Policies

From November 2017 In order to promote demonstration and deployment, favourable import duty structure has been introduced for fuel cell systems to be deployed with renewable generated fuels.

Research and Development

MNRE’s Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) programme on Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells focuses on: hydrogen production from renewable routes; development of materials and techniques for safe and efficient storage of hydrogen; development of indigenous and affordable fuel cells; and, demonstration of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in various nice applications.

• Projects are being supported in premier universities, research institutions and industries.
• Ongoing projects include pilot scale hydrogen production facility through biomass gasification at Indian Institute of Science, and development of LT-PEM Fuel Cells at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) – Centre for Fuel Cell Technology.
• Department of Science and Technology is also funding basic research projects in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell.

Demonstration, Deployments, and Workforce Developments

1. MNRE is developing a collaborative proposal to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Leh as part of the initiative to make the high altitude region of Ladakh a “Carbon Neutral Destination”. In April 2020, NTPC Ltd., a public sector entity launched a global expression of interest for fuel cell buses and cars for the project in April.

2. Indian Oil Corporation is implementing a project on H-CNG fuelled city transport buses in Delhi. The H-CNG generation plant has been commissioned and pilot run of 50 buses is expected to commence once the pandemic situation improves.

3. Indian Oil Corporation has also brought out a tender for 15 fuel cell buses to be sourced indigenously.

Events and Solicitations

Nothing new to report.

Investments and Funding

For the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021, there is a provision of INR 200 Million (USD 2.8 Million) for hydrogen energy and fuel cell related activities in the MNRE budget.

Regulations, Codes & Standards, and Safety

MNRE is coordinating with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) to put in place a regulatory framework for deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in India.

Data

None.

Websites

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

Reports & Publications

None.

Member Statements

Last updated July 2020 Indian Statement (PDF; 33nd Steering Committee Meeting; Online, June 16-19, 2020 Indian Statement (PDF; 32nd Steering Committee Meeting; Seoul, Republic of Korea; October 21-25, 2019 Indian Statement (PDF); 31st Steering Committee Meeting; Vienna, Austria; April 9-12, 2019 Indian Statement (PDF); 30th Steering Committee Meeting; Pretoria, South Africa; December 6, 2018 Indian Statement (PDF); 28th Steering Committee Meeting; Netherlands; November 20-23, 2017 Indian Statement (PDF); 27th Steering Committee Meeting; Hamburg, Germany; April 25-28, 2017 Indian Statement (PDF); 26th Steering Committee Meeting; Gwangju, Republic of Korea; November 1-4, 2016 Indian Statement (PDF 185KB); 25th Steering Committee Meeting; Berkeley, CA, USA; May 17-20, 2016 Indian Statement (PDF 55KB): 24th Steering Committee Meeting; Grenoble, France; 1-3 December 2015 Indian Statement (PDF 881KB); 21st Steering Committee Meeting; Oslo, Norway; 19-21 May 2014 Indian Statement (PDF 723KB); 19th Steering Committee Meeting; London, United Kingdom; 23-24 May 2013 Indian Statement (PDF 1.72MB); 18th Steering Committee Meeting; Seville, Spain; 14 November 2012 Indian Statement (PDF 897KB); Steering Committee Meeting; Sao Paulo, Brazil; 24-25 April 2007 Indian Statement (PDF 1.03MB); Steering Committee Meeting; Kyoto, Japan; 14-15 September 2005 Ministerial Statement (PDF 103KB); IPHE Inaugural Ministerial Meeting; Washington, D.C.; 20 Nov 2003 Contact: Dr. P.C.Maithani, Adviser, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy | pcmaithani@nic.in