OPINION: The making of the future hydrogen economy: Green or Blue?

As the world looks to decarbonize and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, clean hydrogen as a fuel is becoming an increasingly compelling option to decarbonize the hard to decarbonize industrial, heating, and transport segments of the economy. Hydrogen is an energy-dense fuel and emits zero carbon dioxide when it is used, and therein lies its appeal in producing clean industrial chemicals like carbon-free ammonia and methanol, powering heavy transport, making zero-emissions steel, generating clean power to supplement renewables, and blending in natural gas grids for fuel. India’s growing industrial economy has the unique opportunity to harness clean hydrogen at scale to not only transform its industry, power, and heavy transport segments to low carbon operations, but also importantly, to substitute much of the imported crude derivatives, natural gas, coke and chemicals with hydrogen for enhanced energy security and self-sufficiency.