RECOGNITION OF 3 MAJOR INDIAN PORTS AS GREEN HYDROGEN HUBS UNDER NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION (NGHM)

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has formally recognised 3 major ports as the Green Hydrogen Hubs (GHH) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).

Recognition of these 3 major ports is a significant step towards an integrated hydrogen ecosystem, thereby advancing India’s transition towards clean energy. NGHM’s aim is to position India as a global hub for the production, utilisation, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Ports recognised as GHH

·       Deendayal Port Authority - Gujarat

·       V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority - Tamil Nadu

·       Paradip Port Authority - Odisha

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) - Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed this development and said, “This recognition marks a defining moment in India’s maritime journey as we transition to become a modern, capable and leader in the global maritime segment. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are working towards building an ecosystem of sustainable development that will power India towards realising the vision of becoming net zero by 2070. Ports are important nodes in this transition. As Green Hydrogen hubs, our ports will act as catalysts of clean energy innovation. As a maritime leader, India’s ports will not only empower their own country but also leverage its strategic positions along the eastern and western trade routes to drive the region towards sustainable logistics.”

Photo for representation purpose

Acknowledging the logistic and technical challenges in long-distance hydrogen transport, the mission adopts a cluster-based development model, known as Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVIC). Under this approach, early-stage project viability is done to enable infrastructure convergence and help achieve economies of scale in the identified regions. Revised scheme guidelines were issued on 27^th June 2025, including a framework for identifying and supporting potential regions, exhibiting promising capabilities of handling large-scale hydrogen activity. Under the B2 component of these guidelines, MNRE may recognise locations as GHH without committing any direct financial assistance, thereby facilitating their access to incentives and benefits being provided under other Central nodal or State schemes.

After getting recognized as GHH, these ports are expected to catalyse industrial participation, attract green investments, and promote innovation in clean fuel technologies, supporting India’s broader vision of achieving energy self-reliance and net-zero emissions by 2070.

Indian government launched the NGHM in January 2023 with an aim to become self-reliant in clean energy sector. It wants to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, decarbonize the economy and achieve energy security through the production, use and export of green hydrogen and its derivates. Hydrogen as a form of fuel is produced through the process of electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen & oxygen using electricity derived from renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.

Content source: PIB