MNRE releases guidelines for funding testing, certification facilities for Green Hydrogen

New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has come out with guidelines for funding of testing facilities, infrastructure, and for institutional support for the development of standards and regulatory framework for the Green Hydrogen value chain. “The scheme will support identification of the gaps in the existing testing facilities for components, technologies, and processes in the value chain of Green Hydrogen & its derivatives. The Scheme will support creation of new testing facilities and upgradation of existing Testing Facilities to ensure safe and secure operations,” said a notification issued by the MNRE. The scheme is covered under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

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Green Hydrogen: Rs 200-cr funding earmarked for testing & certification facilities

The scheme guidelines provide for a total budgetary outlay of Rs 200 crore till the financial year 2025-26. The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) will be the Scheme Implementation Agency (SIA). The scheme encompasses the development of robust quality and performance testing facilities to ensure quality, sustainability, and safety in Green Hydrogen production and trade.

Call for proposals will be issued by the SIA in consultation with the MNRE. Those eligible to submit proposals under the scheme include government organisations and public and private companies intending to set up or upgrade its existing hydrogen testing or certification facility. “Testing facilities set up or upgraded under the Scheme shall be open to all potential users and shall not be a captive unit of any one organisation or a group of organisations,” said the notification.

Funding stipulations

The MNRE will fund 100 percent of the capital cost for equipment, installation and commissioning of the equipment for government entities and 70 percent of the capital cost for non-government entities. Up to 15 percent of the total financial support provided under the scheme may be used for supporting operational expenses spread over a period of upto four years from the date of completion of the project. The grants-in-aid will be released in three installments.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched on January 4, 2023, with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore with a timeline up to FY 2029-30. “It will contribute to India’s goal to become ‘Aatmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global Clean Energy Transition. The Mission will lead to significant decarbonisation of the economy, reduced dependence on fossil fuel imports, and enable India to assume technology and market leadership in Green Hydrogen,” said the MNRE.

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