Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India

News- The Government of India has introduced the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India.

About Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI)

• Purpose–  It is aimed at establishing a framework to certify green hydrogen production and ensure transparency, traceability, and market credibility.
• The GHCI mandates that all green hydrogen producers—except those producing solely for export—must undergo a certification process to verify that their hydrogen is produced exclusively using renewable energy sources.
• Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Nodal agency: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
• The MNRE is responsible for formulating a comprehensive methodology that includes the measurement, monitoring, reporting, on-site verification, and certification of green hydrogen and its associated derivatives.
• Scope of certification- The certification is conducted at the project level, covering all production stages up to the compression and purification of hydrogen for transport.
  • Activities beyond the plant premises—including transportation, storage, conversion to hydrogen carriers, reconversion, and final use—are excluded from the certification boundary.
• Types of Certificates- The scheme allows for the issuance of two distinct types of certificates to green hydrogen production facilities:
  • Concept Certificate (Voluntary) – Issued during the design or planning stage.
  • Facility-Level Certificate (Mandatory) – Issued based on actual facility operations and compliance.
• Emission Intensity Criteria Emissions must be calculated using the official MNRE Green Hydrogen Emission Calculation Methodology.
• Green’ Certification is conditional on meeting the average emission intensity requirements of 2 kg CO2 eq/kg H2 or less.
• Certificate characteristics:
  • The green hydrogen certificate is non-transferable and non-tradable.
  • It cannot be used to claim any form of emission reduction credits under carbon markets or offset mechanisms.