• Four HVICs Established: India is setting up four "living laboratories" across the country to showcase large-scale hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilization. These clusters are designed to accelerate the clean energy transition, foster innovation, and develop standards and policies for the hydrogen economy.
• Significant Investment: The initiative involves a total investment of approximately ₹485 crore (around $58 million USD), with ₹169.89 crore from the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and the remainder from industry partners.
• Integration under NGHM: The HVICs, initially conceptualized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have been integrated into the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's (MNRE) National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Funding Approvals: In July 2025, the MNRE approved $7.8 million in funding for four specific HVIC projects, including a project in Pune receiving $2 million and plans for Kerala receiving $2.4 million.
• Ports Designated as Green Hydrogen Hubs: In October 2025, three major ports—Deendayal Port (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port Odisha)—were formally recognized as Green Hydrogen Hubs. This move, operating under revised June 2025 guidelines, supports a cluster-based development model for project viability and scale. 

• Pune, Maharashtra: A project is led by the National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL).
• Kerala: The state government has given its nod to the HVIC-Kerala, a not-for-profit company led by the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) to implement the project.
• Tamil Nadu: IIT Madras is working with industries, including a collaboration with Hyundai, to establish an innovation hub and develop indigenous technologies. 

• It is hydrogen gas generated by splitting water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) through a process called electrolysis.
• The electricity used in electrolysis is sourced entirely from renewable energy, so the process emits no greenhouse gases.
• It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly combustible fuel.
• Green hydrogen production avoids carbon dioxide emissions unlike "grey hydrogen" (produced from fossil fuels without carbon capture) and "blue hydrogen" (fossil fuel-based but with carbon capture).
• It is considered a zero-emission fuel and plays a crucial role in decarbonizing industries, heavy transport, and power generation sectors.
• Hydrogen produced in this way can be stored and used to stabilize energy supply from intermittent renewable power sources.
• Its applications include use in heavy industries (steel, chemicals, ammonia), transportation (ships, trucks, trains, airplanes), and long-term energy storage.
• The byproduct oxygen from electrolysis can also be used commercially for industrial and medical purposes.
• Countries with renewable energy abundance, like India with its National Green Hydrogen Mission, aim to increase production capacity and utilize green hydrogen for energy independence and emissions targets.
• It has the potential to replace fossil fuels in many sectors, helping reduce dependency on imports and significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

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