IIT Bombay and HSBC India Collaborate to Drive Innovation in Green Hydrogen Solutions

The transition to clean and sustainable energy sources is critical in combating climate change. Green hydrogen, with its wide-ranging applications, including transportation, is set to play a key role in shaping the global energy future. The IIT Bombay and HSBC India Green Hydrogen programme aims to accelerate the development and deployment of green hydrogen technologies. The initiative received an impressive number of project proposals from six IITs, the National Institute of Technology, and the Indian Institute of Science, Education, and Research. From these, six promising projects were selected for incubation at IIT Bombay through a rigorous evaluation by a Steering Committee comprising industry experts and senior IIT faculty members.

The shortlisted projects propose technologies and solutions to address challenges in green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and usage. These include developing indigenous hydrogen storage systems to significantly reduce carbon emissions from commercial vehicles, cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen generators, and alternative combustion burners to improve air quality in urban areas. These innovations will be incubated at IIT Bombay's incubation centre, refined to achieve commercial readiness by the end of the programme, and supported for scaling up and extending their reach.

Commenting on the initiative, Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India, said, “We believe that Green hydrogen is a necessary lever to achieve a low carbon economy. Our partnership with IIT Bombay reflects this belief and is also in line with our global commitment to sustainability. It is overwhelming to see the great response to this programme and the innovative ideas that we have received. We look forward to working with IIT Bombay to nurture these six innovations to make Green Hydrogen a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable proposition.”

Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, added, "IIT Bombay is honoured to join forces with HSBC India in a transformative endeavour to drive India toward energy independence by setting up a thriving green hydrogen economy. This collaboration underscores our firm commitment to supporting the Indian government’s visionary National Green Hydrogen Mission which positions green hydrogen not just as a sustainable fuel, but as a cornerstone of the country's future energy landscape. By driving groundbreaking research with wide-ranging applications—from transportation to industrial energy—this partnership is set to catalyze a cleaner, self-reliant India, and elevate our role as a leader in the global green energy movement."

Launched in 2023 by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, this three-year programme focuses on positioning green hydrogen as a strategic alternative fuel with applications across industries. It aims to create a robust green hydrogen economy, helping India achieve energy independence and supporting the government’s policy framework for a global green hydrogen transition.

Green hydrogen offers environmental benefits while being economically viable, creating jobs in emerging green sectors, and enhancing energy security by diversifying energy sources. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the Indian government has committed to developing a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes per year by 2030. This ambitious target is expected to boost India’s renewable energy capacity by 125 GW, significantly reducing carbon emissions and advancing the country’s net-zero vision.

Overview of the Six Shortlisted Projects:

Project 1: Utilize earth-abundant materials for sustainable and cost-effective hydrogen production, paving the way for a cleaner energy future.

Project 2: Develop a prototype hydrogen generator capable of producing 5 litres of hydrogen per minute, achieving over 80% energy efficiency and reducing production costs by approximately 30%.

Project 3: Design a locally developed multi-stack alkaline electrolyzer for cost-effective green hydrogen production, lowering the overall cost and promoting its adoption in various industries.

Project 4: Create indigenous hydrogen storage systems to support the growth of hydrogen-powered light and heavy-duty vehicles, significantly reducing carbon emissions from commercial transport.

Project 5: Design an innovative burner as a sustainable alternative to traditional combustion methods, enhancing air quality, improving public health, and reducing the carbon footprint.

Project 6: Develop a tool to provide precise guidance for safely blending hydrogen with natural gas, enabling secure transportation and reducing dependency on carbon-based fossil fuels.

This collaboration between IIT Bombay and HSBC India marks an important step towards advancing green hydrogen innovations, fostering sustainability, and driving India’s transition to a clean energy future.