Setting the Standard for Green Power: India Drafts Electrolyser Rulebook

The Government of India has taken a landmark step towards strengthening its green hydrogen ecosystem by announcing plans to establish the country’s first dedicated standards for green hydrogen electrolysers. This critical move aims to ensure quality, efficiency, safety, and reliability in electrolyser manufacturing and deployment, ultimately accelerating India’s ambitions under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) to become a global leader in green hydrogen production and use.

 

Key Highlights: Setting the Foundation for Electrolyser Standards

 

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), overseeing the Green Hydrogen Division, has recognized the urgent need for formalised technical and safety standards tailored to domestic electrolyser manufacturing, fueling confidence among investors, producers, and technology developers.

 

These standards are expected to cover key parameters such as performance benchmarks, durability, safety protocols, energy efficiency, and environmental compliance, aligned with India’s renewable energy and climate goals.

 

Introducing robust electrolyser standards complements the broader green hydrogen ecosystem, including recently rolled out National Green Hydrogen Mission guidelines for Green Hydrogen Hubs (GHH) and Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVIC), which serve as innovation and testing grounds for hydrogen technologies.

 

Context Within India’s Green Hydrogen Expansion

 

India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (launched in 2023) targets producing at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030, targeting a cost reduction from the current €4.84–6.11 per kg to around €1.37 per kg through scale, innovation, and domestic manufacturing.

 

Electrolysers, which use renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, are core to green hydrogen production. India’s push for local electrolyser manufacturing aims to reduce import dependence and costs, manufacturing capacity being supported with subsidies under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition program.

 

The new electrolyser standards are expected to enhance quality assurance and interoperability across the supply chain, thereby instilling trust among buyers and supporting large-scale hydrogen infrastructure development.

 

Details and Implementation Roadmap

 

The standards will likely be developed collaboratively involving MNRE, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), industry stakeholders, research institutions, and global experts, ensuring compatibility with international best practices while addressing India’s unique climatic and operational conditions.

 

Parallel initiatives include mandatory certification processes under India’s Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCS) launched in 2025, which verifies emissions intensity and renewable electricity sourcing for green hydrogen projects.

 

The formulation of these standards is anticipated to synchronize with existing energy policies such as interstate transmission waiver for renewable electricity and streamlined regulatory regimes for hydrogen projects.

 

Strategic Benefits and Future Impacts

 

Adoption of comprehensive electrolyser standards will stimulate domestic industry growth, support innovation, and enable India to produce electrolysers at competitive international quality levels.

 

They are also expected to facilitate export opportunities by benchmarking Indian electrolyser products to global expectations and certifying them against stringent performance and safety criteria.

 

Enhanced standards and quality controls will mitigate operational risks, ensure system longevity, and optimize hydrogen cost structures, thus making green hydrogen solutions viable for sectors such as heavy industry, transport, and power generation.

 

Establishing these standards aligns with India’s commitment to deeper renewable integration, decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors, and meeting its energy security objectives by reducing fossil fuel imports.

 

Challenges and Next Steps

 

Developing tailored electrolyser standards is complex, given the variety of technologies (PEM, alkaline, solid oxide) and the evolving global landscape of hydrogen technologies.

 

India needs to overcome challenges such as data scarcity on long-term performance in Indian conditions, aligning with international standards without compromising local industrial capabilities, and ensuring stakeholder consensus.

 

Pilot projects under Hydrogen Valley Innovation Centres (HVICs) and Green Hydrogen Hubs (GHHs) will provide valuable operational data to inform and refine standards.

 

MNRE is expected to release detailed timelines and draft proposals for public consultation shortly, encouraging industry feedback to shape comprehensive and practical guidelines.

 

Conclusion

 

India’s initiative to institute its first green hydrogen electrolyser standards marks a pivotal milestone in building a robust, high-quality, and cost-effective green hydrogen economy. By laying down clear technical criteria, India not only fortifies domestic manufacturing but also sets the stage for sustainable energy transformation aligned with its National Hydrogen Mission goals. This systemic approach will accelerate the scaling of green hydrogen projects crucial for energy transition, economic growth, and global climate commitments.

 

Sources: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GH2 India updates