India's Leap Forward: Transforming Energy with Hydrogen Safely and Sustainably
Key Ideas
  • The 2025 amendment to the Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels rules in India focuses on accommodating safe storage, transport, and dispensing of compressed and liquefied hydrogen fuels to drive the country's transition to cleaner energy.
  • The updated rules set technical benchmarks for bulk and non-bulk hydrogen systems, establish safety standards for hydrogen installations, and mandate digital submission of documents, aiming to catalyze innovation and investments in the hydrogen fuel sector.
  • In a move to support startups, MSMEs, and women entrepreneurs, the amendment offers fee concessions for licensing, encouraging a more diverse and inclusive energy sector, particularly in areas like hydrogen fueling and cryogenic equipment manufacturing.
  • The new safety blueprint in Schedule V lays down comprehensive standards for LH₂ storage, handling, and transportation, ensuring safety in cryogenic tank design, fire safety, leak detection, and prohibiting co-location of hydrogen fuel with other automotive fuels without authorization.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India has introduced the Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to enable the safe storage, transport, and dispensing of compressed and liquefied hydrogen fuels, facilitating the country's shift towards cleaner energy sources. The amendment integrates global standards and emerging technologies into India's regulatory framework under the Explosives Act of 1884. By formalizing definitions and technical benchmarks for bulk and non-bulk hydrogen systems, the rules pave the way for the development of national hydrogen corridors and fuel infrastructure. The amendment emphasizes green hydrogen infrastructure and supports India's commitment to decarbonization under the National Green Hydrogen Mission by recognizing Green Hydrogen with specific emission standards. In terms of safety, licensing, and digitalization, the rules enhance design, operation, and maintenance standards for hydrogen installations, requiring adherence to stringent protocols and online submission of documents. Additionally, the amendment extends license validity, reduces fees for startups, MSMEs, and women entrepreneurs, and introduces Schedule V outlining safety standards for LH₂ storage and transportation. The reforms aim to de-risk investments, encourage localized manufacturing, and accelerate hydrogen fuel cell vehicle adoption, positioning India as a global hub for green hydrogen production. The regulations are seen as a potential model for hydrogen governance in emerging economies, signaling a shift towards a cleaner and more inclusive hydrogen-powered future.
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