The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 19,744 crore incentive plan to promote the manufacturing of green hydrogen in the country in a bid to cut emissions.
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved Rs 2,500 crore to upgrade Prasar Bharati’s Doordarshan and All India Radio networks across the country. This scheme also includes free distribution of over eight lakh Free Dish set top boxes of Doordarshan to people living in remote, tribal, naxal affected areas and border areas. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the National Green Hydrogen Mission is expected to attract Rs 8 lakh crore of investment in the green hydrogen chain. India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen per annum in next five years.
The incentives would help bring down the cost, he said, detailing the Mission.
Carbon-free hydrogen, which can be used as fuel in automobiles and as an energy source in industries such as oil refineries and steel plants, is produced by splitting water. When electricity generated from renewable sources such as the sun is used to split water through electrolysis, green hydrogen is produced. Oxygen is a by-product of such a process.
"The initial outlay for the mission will be Rs 19,744 crore, including an outlay of Rs 17,490 crore for the SIGHT programme, Rs 1,466 crore for pilot projects, Rs 400 crore for R&D, and Rs 388 crore towards other mission components. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation.
"The mission seeks to promote development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country by 2030," said Government in statement.
Several nations have already come up with green hydrogen subsidy and support programmes. Recently, the US announced a big support plan for clean hydrogen through Inflation Reduction Act. Germany, UK and Japan are also providing support to clean hydrogen through State support programmes. The mission will have wide ranging benefits -- creation of export opportunities for green hydrogen and its derivatives; decarbonisation of industrial, mobility and energy sectors; reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock; development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities; creation of employment opportunities; and development of cutting-edge technologies, an official statement said.
The Mission will also support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways. Regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or utilisation of hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs, the minister added.
"The BIND (Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development) scheme is the vehicle for providing financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development and civil work related to the organisation," the I&B Ministry said in a statement.
"Prasar Bharati, as the public broadcaster of the country, is the most important vehicle of information, education, entertainment and engagement for the people especially in the remote areas of the country through Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR). Prasar Bharati played a stellar role in communicating health messages and awareness to the public during the Covid pandemic," said Thakur.
The BIND scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure which will widen its reach, including in the LWE (Left Wing Extremism), border and strategic areas and provide high quality content to the viewers. Purchase of OB vans and digital upgradation of DD and AIR studios to make them HD ready will also be done as part of the project. Thakur said the scheme envisions how Doordarshan should be 20 years from now.
"Prasar Bharti is the public broadcaster...It is not just about profit making. The aim is to ensure information regarding the Government's work and schemes reaches people. Different reports have pointed at the quality of content, whether it is Doordarshan or AIR," said Thakur, adding both DD and AIR are also available on mobile phones. "We are planning how DD should look 20 years from now," he said.