Special Plenary with Padma Vibhushan Dr R.A.Mashelkar, Chairman New Energy Council, Reliance Industry, former Director General Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
Session highlights:
- Mr. Vipul Ray, president IEEMA welcomed Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath AnantMashelkarin today’sSpecial Plenary session. He is an eminent scientist, he is known for his contributions to India’s National Chemical Laboratory and Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, multiple ‘Mashelkar Committees’, and a successful campaign against foreign patents on Indian traditional knowledge. His mantras of ‘Inclusive Innovation’, ‘More from Less for More’, and ‘Gandhian Engineering’ have been a constant source of inspiration for corporates and youth alike.
- Setting the background President IEEMA mentioned that Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) is the apex association of manufacturers of electrical, industrial electronics and allied equipment in India. Founded in 1948, IEEMA is the first ISO certified industry association encompassing the complete value chain in power generation, transmission and distribution equipment, including new and renewable energy. IEEMA members contribute to more than 95% of the power equipment installed in India and represent a turnover of over USD 50 Billion. Our membership and competencies range from renewable to storage and from smart meter to cyber security.
- Digielec Bharat is a culmination of digitization & indigenization taking forward the clarion call of our Hon’ble Prime Minister towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. Going forward IEEMA will work on 4 pillars Technology -development &adaptation, EV, RE and Cybersecurity. IEEMA also works on policy advocacy& international business with strong focus on quality and safety.
- Chairman Mr. Vijay Karia welcomed Dr.R.A.Mashelkar and thanked him for his consent to address this august gathering inspite of having a very busy schedule.
Dr. R. A. Mashelkar's presentation summary:
- Dr. R. A. Mashelkar’s presentation was focused on Green Hydrogen driven new green revolution, challenges faced by India along with the huge opportunities.
- His presentation was clubbed under 5 heads-
- Green hydrogen: hype to hope
- Global scenario
- Indian scenario
- Green Hydrogen R&D: India’s potential
- What next: way forward
- Production Pathways for Hydrogen- Hydrogen production varies in terms of raw materials and end products. Gray hydrogen uses fossil fuels and produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct. Blue hydrogen captures and stores most of the carbon dioxide output. Green hydrogen’s byproduct is oxygen. Currently India is producing gray hydrogen we are slowly moving towards blue hydrogen and eventually will transit to green hydrogen.
- Exponential growth in hydrogen requirement with 359 large scale hydrogen projects announced, 53 is by China; 510 bn USD investment estimated by 2030.
- 200% increase in capacity announced in 2020
- Boom in hydrogen investment activity with $10.6 bn flowing into the industry from private pockets since 2020.
- Investments announced across the value chain are 33% of the required investments to reach the already scaling up scenario.
- Countries across the globe formulating policy initiatives to push hydrogen adoption as hydrogen economy could provide 22% global energy needs and $2.5 Tn Annual Revenue by 2050.
- In a decarbonized world, hydrogen could grow by 8 times which will enhance H2 fuel sales to $ 700 Bn pa.
- In the long term green hydrogen could become more than a niche fuel if cheap renewable electricity is available.
- Policies will likely need to consider the carbon impact, complexity of hydrogen-infrastructure investment and future changes to carbon pricing.
- Hydrogen application roadmap shows existing hydrogen application compared to new ones.
- 109 companies from 20 plus countries have committed to a green future with green hydrogen.
- Green hydrogen is a must for India. It can aid India- to reduce over $160 billion worth of imports of its present energy consumption; significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions; to meet India’s target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
- PM Modi’s announcement at UNGA of India to become the world’s biggest Green Hydrogen hub as we are answerable to our future generation.From the Quad Leaders’ Summit it is eminent that globally the nations are willing to partner to reduce their carbon footprint and aiming towards a cleaner and sustainable energy.
- National Hydrogen Energy Mission-Develop and deploy hydrogen energy for meeting energy security and positioning of India as a technology leader in hydrogen.
- Steps required for achieving hydrogen goals as per NHEM-graded market development; pilot projects; infrastructure development; create hydrogen hubs; a proper framework for ‘Make in India and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ backed by policy support and public awareness which is also a crucial part.
- A huge business opportunity can be created for India by tapping the enormous hydrogen demand potential.
- Current global electrolyzer manufacturing and deployment cannot meet the exponentially growing demand of electrolyzer capacities and hydrogen imports. So there is a big opportunity for India to play a significant role across green hydrogen value chain in India and for export market through integration with solar.
- Reducing cost of clean hydrogen key driver to accelerate transition to hydrogen economy by achieving affordable excellence which India specializes in.
- Five options to achieve that state of art technology-1.Buy; 2. Make, 3. Buy to make, 4. Make to buy better, 5. Make it together.
- Opportunities lie across hydrogen value chain starting from production to transportation storage to utilization.
- Power electronics companies has amajor role of in hydrogen value chain.
- Hydrogen value chain offers huge opportunities for electrical, electronics and control system companies.
- Players like academia, national labs, start-ups, industry, public private partnerships, and global partnerships are all going to be an integral part of this hydrogen value chain.
- CSIR has immensely contributed to build sustainable hydrogen economy by focusing on generation, storage and utilization.
- Dr. R. A. Mashelkar pioneered the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (2000) which is India’s biggest public private partnership in technology.
- Way forward- India must become a leader in hydrogen economyand lead the sectorof’affordable excellence’. Create bold financial instrument through more public private partnerships in this sector, create technology – invent and make in India initiatives.
- Technology backed by bold policy can make the difference which will create new job opportunities and have a positive impact on our environment.
- Dr. R. A. Mashelkar is also the Chairman of Reliance Innovation Council which believes in innovation led exponential growth.
- India has pole vaulted in many segments it’s time for India to lead in Hydrogen Economy.
- Mr. Mustafa Wajid – MD, Meher Group summarised the session by thanking Dr. R. A. Mashelkar for his insightful presentation. He commnted that toconvert India’s 25% of primary energy consumption to green hydrogen India will need about 400 GW of electricity roughly. IEEMA will seek Dr. Mashelkar’sassistance to approach the Govt. to formulate the policies necessary for this new domain. He requested him to guide IEEMA and its memberslike a teacher to this new and exciting Hydrogen Economy.
- The vote of thanks was provided by Mr. Hamza Arsiwala- VP, IEEMA. He thanked Dr. R. A. Mashelkar for his valuable time and highlighting the importance of hydrogen for India in coming years and conceptualising “Make and Invent in India”.
