Green hydrogen: Centre expands carbon offset rules

TO BOOST INDIA'S green hydrogen exports and encourage energy-intensive sectors to adopt the emerging fuel, the Centre has introduced a certification scheme under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and notified rules for claiming emission offsets under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).

- AGGAM WALIA

Union minister of new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi on April 29 launched a scheme to measure, monitor, report, verify on-site, and certify green hydrogen based on a standard introduced by the ministry in 2023.

"This will help to ensure that the hydrogen produced in India truly qualifies as green. A lot of greenwashing tends to happen these days, which is why certification is most important. With the certification in place, our green hydrogen will carry a mark of quality and credibility, making it globally desirable and export-ready," Joshi said.

On April 27, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), nodal agency for the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme, also announced an offset mechanism for hard-to-abate sectors using green hydrogen under CCTS, to allow them to earn and trade credits.