Discuss how standards and certification frameworks can make India competitive in global green hydrogen trade.

In global hydrogen trade, buyers pay for verified low-carbon molecules, not for hydrogen alone. MNRE therefore notified the Green Hydrogen Standard in August 2023. It caps emissions at 2 kg CO₂e per kg H₂, measured well-to-gate [1]. Backed by certification, this can turn India's renewable-energy advantage into export credibility, as the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) aims to make India a global hub [2].

How standards and certification build competitiveness

• Market access: A clear numerical limit lets importers check Indian hydrogen against their own rules. This reduces doubts about greenwashing [1].
• Trust through verification: The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (April 2025) uses BEE-accredited agencies for monitoring, verification and certification [3]. Third-party checks make green claims bankable.
• Uniform accounting: Well-to-gate measurement runs from water treatment to compression. It gives every producer the same benchmark [1], which allows comparison and long-term offtake contracts.
• Credible low-cost supply: SECI's first green ammonia auction discovered ₹55.75/kg, against ₹100.28/kg in the 2024 H2Global auction [4]. Later bids ranged from ₹49.75 to ₹64.74/kg [5]. Certified supply at these prices is India's export pitch.
• Subsidy tied to compliance: Projects that receive government incentives must be certified [3]. As a result, SIGHT support (₹17,490 crore) [2] builds an export base that already complies.

Gaps to address

• Annual averaging: The limit is a 12-month average [1]. Coal-based grid power used at night can be balanced out by clean hours. Importers may demand time-matched proof.
• Mutual recognition: Importing countries' acceptance of Indian certificates is still being built. Without it, exporters may need to certify twice.
• Scope: Well-to-gate leaves out transport and conversion emissions, which buyers of derivatives such as ammonia may count.

Way forward

• Negotiate mutual-recognition agreements with major importers such as the EU, Japan and Korea.
• Offer hourly-matched, export-grade certificates alongside the domestic standard.
• Build a digital, traceable registry of certificates to ensure transparency.

Standards and certification turn India's cost advantage into trusted, tradable green molecules. India should align them with partner-country rules and tighten verification. That would make India a rule-shaper in hydrogen trade, not just a price-taker. It would also advance Net Zero 2070 and SDGs 7 and 13.