National Hydrogen Energy Board Approves India Road Map

With this document, which reflects India's needs and priorities, the Minister said India joined a select group of countries including U.S., Canada, Iceland, European Union, China, Germany, who have completed similar documents. The plan provides for a transition to the new Hydrogen Energy Economy in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way, enabling India to achieve sustainable energy security in the next two to three decades.

The Road Map identified two major initiatives: Green Initiative for Future Transport (GIFT) and Green Initiative for Power Generation (GIP). The first aims at developing and demonstrating hydrogen powered IC engine and fuel cell based vehicles through different phases of development. The second envisions developing and demonstrating a hydrogen-powered IC engine/turbine and fuel-cell based decentralized power-generating system of about 1000 MW aggregate capacity by 2020.

The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources set up the National Hydrogen Energy Board in October 2003 to guide the preparation and implementation of the National Hydrogen Energy Program.