India will work to create clean Hydrogen Valleys by 2030 as part of the Gujarat Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster.

The first stakeholder consultation meeting took place on April 21, 2023, in Ahmedabad. In conjunction with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government of India, the innovation-based start-up incubator iCreate organised the meeting.

Representatives from the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat, industry partners, financial institutions, academic institutions, and innovators discussed policy and framework issues as well as partnerships to advance R&D in hydrogen technologies during the meeting.

According to the project's official press release, it will further study cutting-edge hydrogen technologies while developing the capacity and ability for timely and cost-efficient production, distribution, and use cases.

Ranjith Krishna Pai, scientist and director, Climate Change & Clean Energy Division, DST-GoI, presented the guidelines for setting up Hydrogen Valley Innovation clusters. He said that they believe that with breakthrough innovations and widespread adoption, they can unlock cost-competitiveness and achieve a successful model for the Hydrogen Valley Innovation clusters across India.

Avinash Punekar, CEO of iCreate said that they are proud to be leading the Gujarat Hydrogen Valley Consortium, which will be integral to meeting India’s commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030. The company is confident that working together with a common synergy will lead to the creation of a unique and supremely successful Hydrogen Valley Project model to be implemented across India.

The event saw participation from companies such as Reliance Industries, Welspun, Essar, Adani Group, Hypower Systems, ArcerlorMittal Nippon Steel India; MG Motor India; State PSUs like Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, Gujarat Alkalies, and Chemicals Limited, Gujarat Energy Development Agency; City Gas distribution company Charotar Gas Sahakari Mandali Limited; and R&D institutions like CSIR - Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI), IIT Mandi.

According to the release, finding technological advances and widely adopting them can lower the costs of producing hydrogen while also ensuring their commercial viability and competitive end-use applications.

It further said that regular and active consultation meetings have been planned to evaluate and leverage opportunities while taking advantage of common strengths. The Department of Science and Technologies has invited organisations and industry players to make alliances that work in the direction of establishing Hydrogen Valley Innovation clusters across India.

The meeting's outcome would be the filing of an Expression of Interest to the Department of Science and Technology for the creation of the Gujarat Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster and the preparation of a detailed project report.

Gujarat's government, according to Sandip J Sagale, IAS, Industries Commissioner, seeks to develop a cost-effective and timely hydrogen ecosystem through ongoing stakeholder engagements and strategic partnerships.