By The Hindu Bureau

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At present, green hydrogen costs are nearly twice as much as grey or brown hydrogen. However, as the country continues to invest in research and development, the cost will gradually come down, said Pradip Kumar Pandey, Secretary, The Combustion Institute Indian Section (CIIS).

On September 18, Mr. Pandey spoke in Bengaluru at a curtain-raiser of a two-day national workshop and panel discussion on Hydrogen Fuel Technologies and Future Trends scheduled to be held in the city between September 19 and 20. Alliance University, Bengaluru, will host the event in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and The Combustion Institute – Indian Section (CIIS).

According to Mr. Pandey, Alliance University has adopted a village where CIIS is implementing hydrogen-based solutions. Efforts were on to raise funds from both industry and government sources to build this into a model project, he said adding, eventually, as innovators develop safer storage methods, clean hydrogen could also be used in transportation and other sectors, making clean energy more accessible and cost effective.

Abhay G. Chebbi, Pro Chancellor, Alliance University, remarked that India possesses an enormous level of potential when it comes to clean energy innovation and sustainability. “However, it is primarily technology, not policy, that presents the biggest hurdle. While the policy framework is steadily evolving in the right direction, we must focus our efforts on accelerating indigenous technological development and adoption,” he said.

Commenting on the employment potential of green hydrogen, Priestly B. Shan, Vice-Chancellor, Alliance University, said, “One of the key opportunities in India’s hydrogen transition was its potential to create large-scale employment. The National Green Hydrogen Mission estimates 6 lakh new jobs by 2030.”

According to the organisers, the two-day workshop will bring together industry experts, academic researchers, policymakers, and students to explore the evolving role of hydrogen as a clean energy source. Special focus will be on its applications in Internal Combustion (IC) Engines, Gas Turbine Engines, and emerging propulsion systems, with in-depth discussions on hydrogen integration, safety protocols, and the role of AI/ML in hydrogen engine design.

V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, will be the chief guest. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Chairman, CIIS and member of NITI Aayog, will deliver the inaugural keynote on ‘India’s Hydrogen Policy and Future Trends’.

N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR, and Abhay G. Chebbi, Pro Chancellor, Alliance University will participate in the event.