Question
Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct?
1It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
2It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
3National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C2 only
D1, 2 and 3
The Hydrogen Colour Spectrum — First, Understand the Colours
🟢 GREEN
Electrolysis of water using renewable electricity (solar, wind). Zero CO₂ emissions. The cleanest form.
🔵 BLUE
Natural gas reforming + CCS. Low carbon but still fossil fuel–based. Statement 1 describes THIS.
⚫ GREY
Natural gas reforming — NO CCS. Most common globally (95%). Very high CO₂ emissions.
⬛ BLACK
Coal gasification — NO CCS. Dirtiest hydrogen. Very high CO₂ + pollutants.
Each Statement — Verified
1
“Decarbonized hydrogen from natural gas reforming combined with CCS” — FALSE for GREEN hydrogen
Statement 1 accurately describes Blue Hydrogen — not Green Hydrogen:
“Natural gas reforming + CCS” — this is BLUE hydrogen
✗ Describes Blue Hydrogen — not Green
Green Hydrogen: No natural gas. No fossil fuels. Uses only electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro). Only byproduct = oxygen. Zero carbon emissions.
Blue Hydrogen: Uses natural gas (methane) via Steam Methane Reforming (SMR). The CO₂ released is captured via Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Low-carbon but not zero-carbon — still fossil fuel–dependent. India’s NGHM definition and all standard sources confirm this distinction.
✗ Wrong colour — Statement 1 = Blue, not Green
Green = Renewable electrolysis, zero CO₂ · Blue = Natural gas + CCS · Statement 1 is the definition of Blue Hydrogen.
2
“Produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy” — TRUE
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) using an electrolyser powered by renewable electricity. Confirmed verbatim by the official NGHM document and multiple sources:
Electrolysis of water + renewable electricity
✓ Correct — textbook definition of Green H₂
“Green Hydrogen is produced through electrolysis of water using electricity derived from renewable sources such as solar and wind, emitting zero greenhouse gases.”
Electrolysis equation: 2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂
The only byproduct is oxygen — no CO₂ is released at any stage of production.
✓ Textbook definition — confirmed by NGHM official document
2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂ using renewable electricity. Zero GHG emissions. Only byproduct = oxygen.
3
“NGHM aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030” — TRUE
Confirmed verbatim by the official Haryana Renewable Energy Development Authority (HAREDA) government page summarising NGHM targets:
NGHM — 50 MMT GHG emission abatement by 2030
✓ Correct — official NGHM target
“By the year 2030, this Mission targets to… Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.“
This is one of the five key targets of NGHM by 2030 (along with 5 MMT green H₂ production, ₹8 lakh crore investment, 6 lakh jobs, and ₹1 lakh crore reduction in fossil imports).
✓ Official government target — verbatim confirmed
NGHM 2030 GHG target: abatement of nearly 50 MMT/year. One of five key NGHM targets. Confirmed on official HAREDA / MNRE government pages.
NGHM 2030 Targets — All Five
5 MMT/yearGreen H₂ production capacity
125 GWAssociated renewable energy capacity
₹8 lakh croreTotal investment attracted
50 MMT/yearGHG emission abatement ← Statement 3
6 lakh jobsDirect and indirect employment
₹1 lakh croreReduction in fossil fuel imports
Green Hydrogen & NGHM — Key Facts for UPSC
| Parameter | Detail |
| Green H₂ definition | Electrolysis of water using RENEWABLE electricity · Zero CO₂ · Only byproduct = oxygen · NOT natural gas |
| Blue H₂ — Statement 1 | Natural gas + Steam Methane Reforming + CCS · Low carbon but NOT zero carbon · Still fossil fuel–based |
| Grey H₂ | Natural gas + SMR — NO CCS · 95% of current global production · Very high CO₂ emissions |
| NGHM approved | January 4, 2023 · Cabinet · Nodal ministry: MNRE · Outlay: ₹19,744 crore till FY2029-30 |
| NGHM 2030 targets | 5 MMT/yr production · 125 GW RE · ₹8 lakh cr investment · 50 MMT GHG reduction · 6 lakh jobs · ₹1 lakh cr fossil import reduction |
| SIGHT programme | Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition · ₹17,490 crore · Component I: electrolyser manufacturing · Component II: green H₂ production |
| Green H₂ standard | BEE defines: emission intensity ≤2 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg H₂ across production lifecycle |
| India’s first green H₂ plant | Bikaner, Rajasthan · Solar-powered · NTPC Green Energy |
| Statement 1 error | Natural gas + CCS = BLUE hydrogen, not green. Green hydrogen has nothing to do with natural gas or CCS. |
Memory Trick
🧠 Remember It This Way
Statement 1 = Blue disguised as Green: Natural gas + CCS = BLUE hydrogen. Renewable electrolysis = GREEN hydrogen. The trap swaps the colour. If you see “natural gas” or “CCS” in a description of “green hydrogen” → immediately mark WRONG.
Green H₂ = Water + Sun/Wind: Renewable electricity splits water. H₂O → H₂ + O₂. Only byproduct is oxygen. No carbon anywhere in the process. This is the entire definition.
50 MMT = GHG abatement target: NGHM’s 2030 GHG target. Don’t confuse with the production target (5 MMT green H₂/year). Five MMT = production. Fifty MMT = emissions abated. One is 10 times the other.
