Indian Institute of Science’s Green Hydrogen Innovation
On July 18, 2025, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi lauded the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru for developing a system producing 5 kg of 99% pure green hydrogen per hour from agricultural waste, as announced by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). This carbon-negative process reduces over 1 kg of CO2 per kg of hydrogen produced, utilizing India’s abundant agricultural residues. The innovation is part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched under PM Modi, with a ₹19,744 crore investment, aiming for:
- Annual production: 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen.
- Renewable energy capacity: 125 GW.
- Total investment: ₹8 lakh crore.
- Job creation: over 6 lakh jobs.
- CO2 reduction: 50 million metric tons/year.
- Electrolyzer capacity: 3,000 MW funded.
- Green hydrogen production capacity: 8.6 lakh tons/year.
The mission includes 5 pilot projects for 37 hydrogen-fuel vehicles and 9 fuel refuelling centres, with challenges like hydrogen conservation, cost reduction of electrolysis systems (targeting $1/kg by 2030 from current Rs. 300-400/kg), and vehicle costs. Joshi promised collaboration for pilot projects, financial aid, and industrial partnerships for scaling up, highlighting IISc’s role in research institutions like the Standard Hydrogen Initiative and MIT, though specific MIT news was not found.
- Citations: PIB, Energy Watch