Context: India is the third highest energy consumer in the world. As India’s economy is expanding, India faces twin challenges- meeting growing energy demand and production of sustainable energy. In this context, India can rely on two alternatives – Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen as an energy source, to achieve a net-zero economy
India’s Net-Zero Imperative
1. Current Energy Landscape
The power sector in India is currently dominated by fossil fuels, especially coal.
Fossil fuels serve multiple purposes:
Electricity generation
Industrial heat
Chemical feedstocks (e.g., carbon for steelmaking)
2. Path to Net-Zero by 2070
India has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2070, which demands:
Massive electrification of all energy end-uses including:
Transport
Industrial processes
Buildings and homes
Electrification must be powered by clean energy sources to be effective in decarbonisation.
3. Limitations of Renewable Energy
Solar and wind power are critical but suffer from intermittency (unpredictable and weather-dependent supply).
As a result, India must diversify its non-polluting energy mix by:
Expanding Nuclear Energy
Promoting Green Hydrogen as a storage and industrial fuel alternative
4. Crucial Role of Nuclear Energy
a. Long-Term Capacity Goals
India has set a target of 100 GW of installed nuclear power capacity by 2047.
As of January 2025, the current capacity stands at 8.18 GW (8180 MW)—a significant gap to bridge.
b. Expansion Plans
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is leading expansion efforts:
Plans include 26 new reactors, each with 700 MW capacity using Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).
These PHWRs represent a scalable and indigenous technology, central to India’s nuclear roadmap.
c. Interest from Other Sectors
Public sector undertakings (PSUs), including Indian Railways, are exploring the deployment of captive nuclear plants.
NPCIL has invited industry proposals for 220 MW PHWRs, branded as “Bharat Small Reactors”, tailored for industrial and institutional use.
Conclusion
To achieve its net-zero goals, India must:
Transition from fossil fuels to clean and reliable sources of energy.
Electrify key sectors using low-carbon energy.
Overcome the limitations of renewables by investing in baseload options like nuclear power and green hydrogen.
Ensure institutional, financial, and regulatory support to scale up nuclear capacity dramatically over the next two decades.
Green Hydrogen or Low-Carbon Hydrogen: A Strategic Energy Solution
1. Role in Future Energy Systems
As India’s electricity mix shifts toward low-carbon sources—hydro, nuclear, solar, and wind—there will be periods of surplus generation.
This excess energy can be effectively converted into green hydrogen using electrolysis, solving two major challenges:
Energy storage
Sustainable fuel production
2. Green Hydrogen Production
Electrolysers:
Relatively low-cost equipment.
Operate flexibly across varying power levels, making them ideal for fluctuating renewable output.
Green hydrogen is produced using electricity from 100% renewable sources.
Low-carbon hydrogen includes hydrogen produced using low-emission sources, like nuclear energy.
3. Applications of Green Hydrogen
Hydrogen can be used across high-emission sectors, including:
Steel and cement industries
Chemical manufacturing
Long-haul transport
Energy storage systems
It serves as both a fuel and industrial feedstock, replacing fossil-derived hydrogen.
4. Strategic Importance for India
Green and low-carbon hydrogen help:
Utilise surplus renewable or nuclear electricity
Decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors
Reduce fossil fuel imports and strengthen energy independence
Complements nuclear expansion by offering a flexible outlet for off-peak power generation.
5. Policy Imperative
To meet the net-zero target by 2070, India needs a robust, integrated energy policy that:
Expands nuclear capacity
Invests in electrolyser technology and hydrogen infrastructure
Creates demand-side incentives for industries to adopt hydrogen
Establishes clear standards and certifications for green/low-carbon hydrogen