Washington, D.C., Tuesday, October 8, 2024
In honor of Hydrogen Day, celebrated annually on October 8 to reflect the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008), the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), along with its partners across government and industry proudly acknowledge the progress and accomplishments of the US-India hydrogen partnership. As the two largest democracies in the world, the United States and India are uniquely positioned to lead the global charge in addressing climate change through innovative clean energy solutions – and hydrogen is a key element in that portfolio of solutions.
Today is a day to both reflect on the progress and celebrate the future possibilities of hydrogen, as we look back and applaud all the scientists and engineers for the multi-decade-long journey of innovation in hydrogen technology and its use in building a green, resilient, affordable, and equitable clean energy economy.
Now a decade into its recognition, Hydrogen Day serves as a reminder of the critical role that hydrogen can play in decarbonizing energy systems and advancing global climate goals. Hydrogen and fuel cells can be used in multiple sectors for heavy-duty transportation, stationary power, and industrial applications enabling energy security, resiliency, and a strong domestic economy, as well as providing opportunities for a just clean energy transition, providing jobs across sectors.
Today, we take a moment to highlight the US-India hydrogen partnership. In June 2021, the United States Department of Energy (DOE), India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), along with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), launched the US-India Hydrogen Task Force, under the aegis of the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).
The task force brings together over fifty leading industry players, research institutions, and academia from both countries. Its goal is to accelerate the development and deployment of clean hydrogen technologies, focusing on private sector input to integrate the latest innovations and business models that drive clean energy advancements, and to accelerate deployment.
With a structure that includes a government-level steering committee, an industry council, and specialized working groups in key priority areas, the Hydrogen Task Force is a model for public-private collaboration. The partnership focuses on facilitating cooperation across industry and research institutions in the US and India, fostering the exchange of knowledge, resources, and technology to unlock the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy solution. Topics of interest include the use of hydrogen in heavy-duty transportation, industrial applications, hydrogen safety, and standards. Through its popular Hydrogen Speaker Series, the task force has held several dialogues and round tables on the role of hydrogen in the energy transition, creating hydrogen hubs, sharing national hydrogen strategies, and on hydrogen storage and delivery technologies. Just last month, MNRE organized the 2nd International Green Hydrogen Conference, in Delhi, with the U.S. DOE as a key partner – over 8,500 attendees participated, and the Task Force held a round table and panel with both US and Indian hydrogen companies to discuss challenges and opportunities. Future work includes accelerating collaboration on safety, standards, as well as the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot, to enable $1 for 1 kilogram of clean hydrogen within a decade. National labs, through the Renewable Energy Technology Partnership (RETAP), will also play a key role in collaborating on research, development, and analysis to reduce the cost of hydrogen and improve technology performance.
These efforts will promote bilateral research initiatives in green hydrogen, fuel cell technology, and low-carbon hydrogen infrastructure and enhance the strategic collaborations between American and Indian companies to develop commercial opportunities and scale the hydrogen economy. The partnership will be critical in reducing carbon emissions to meet both India’s as well as the United States’ net zero emissions goals and increasing the adoption of clean energy solutions in both countries. Through collaborations on multi-lateral partnerships as well, both the U.S. and India can help pave the way for accelerated progress on mutual goals, virtually around the globe. USISPF is proud to play a leading role in supporting this collaboration.
Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO at USISPF, discussed the importance of the private sector in driving the hydrogen economy and how the Task Force supports collaborative innovation between the US and India. “The United States and India have emerged as committed front-runners for the global energy transition. Through the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership, we have witnessed increased collaboration pertaining to clean energy supply chains, financing, investments, and research and development. Both Washington and New Delhi have an emphasis on the hydrogen economy and hydrogen as a critical energy source for global decarbonization. The U.S. and India have made it a priority to support each other’s national hydrogen missions. Over time, with increased public-private sector collaboration and reverse trade missions, we will be able to build a strong hydrogen economy in India, with ample employment opportunities.”
Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy, and new government co-chair of the task force, touched on the US-India cooperation on hydrogen technologies and the impact of the partnership on global energy transition efforts and said “Today, in honor of Hydrogen Day, I’m pleased to thank my colleagues for all their dedication and leadership. We still have significant work to do to accelerate research, development, and deployment of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and I look forward to collaboration on concrete actions to meet our goals.”
USISPF remains committed to furthering this vital partnership and supporting the U.S. and India’s shared vision for a sustainable, commercially successful, clean hydrogen-powered future.
Ajay Yadav, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), stated the importance of the U.S.-India partnership in hydrogen and its impact on India’s clean energy goals and said “As we celebrate Hydrogen Day, we reflect on the inspiring dialogue and innovation showcased at the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2024) at New Delhi, with the U.S. as a partner country. This landmark event reaffirmed the commitment to advancing the global green hydrogen ecosystem. Through the National Green Hydrogen Mission, we are taking decisive steps towards a cleaner, greener future—positioning India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and technology. Together, we are accelerating toward our goal of reducing carbon emissions and achieving a sustainable energy transition.”
About the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF):
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C., and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organizations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Ankit Jain
ajain@staging-builder2.usispf.org
Akshobh Giridharadas
agiridharadas@staging-builder2.usispf.org