​​Shipping ministry to establish three Indian Ports as Hydrogen Hubs

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) will develop two ports on India's east coast and one port on the west coast as hydrogen hubs as part of the Maritime India Vision 2030. Sarabananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports and Shipping, stated that the Paradip Port in Odisha, the Deendayal Port in Gujarat, and the V.O.Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu will be developed for handling, storage, and green hydrogen generation to meet India's hydrogen production goals by 2030. According to the minister, the Ports and Shipping Ministry has already begun steps to develop green ports, which will prioritise reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to make the Indian maritime sector more sustainable. “The Ministry for Ports, Shipping and Waterways intends to increase the share of renewable energy to 60% of the total power demand of each of its major ports from a present share of less than 10%. The ports have also aimed to reduce carbon emissions, per ton of cargo handled, by 30% by the year 2030,” Sonowal said. The minister established the National Center of Excellence for Green Port and Shipping in November to assist major Indian ports in sourcing up to 60% of their energy demand from clean sources such as solar and wind. Setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources; acquiring equipment to monitor environmental pollution; acquiring dust suppression systems; establishing garbage disposal systems for sewage treatment plants in ports and ships; and developing shore reception facilities for waste from ships are some of the steps that the government will take to make the ports carbon-free. The ministry has also begun to upgrade major ports with features such as shore-to-ship power, the use and promotion of electrically powered port equipment, as well as storage and bunkering facilities for environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia. To help meet greenhouse gas reduction targets, the government has stated that India will implement International Maritime Organization-energy efficiency requirements for ships as well as carbon intensity requirements on all coastal or international vessels. See also: Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission Kerala to build a green hydrogen hub in Kochi