India–UK Conference in New Delhi Strengthens Cooperation on Green Hydrogen Standards and Safety.
New Delhi:
India and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on green hydrogen development and safety standards during the India–UK Conference on Green Hydrogen Standards and Safety Protocols, held on February 27, 2026, in New Delhi. The high-level conference brought together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, academic experts, and technical institutions from both countries to discuss strategies for ensuring the safe and large-scale deployment of green hydrogen technologies.
The conference was organized by the National Centre for Hydrogen Safety (NCHS) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in collaboration with the British High Commission in India and World Resources Institute India. The event aimed to support India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission by strengthening regulatory frameworks, international standards, and safety protocols across the green hydrogen value chain.
Focus on Safe Hydrogen Deployment
The conference focused on the safe production, storage, transportation, and end-use of green hydrogen. Experts discussed the need for internationally aligned safety standards and robust regulatory systems to ensure that hydrogen technologies can scale up safely and efficiently.
The inaugural session opened with remarks by Mohammad Rihan, Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy, who highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange and global partnerships in advancing hydrogen safety practices.
Special addresses were delivered by Abhay Bakre, Mission Director of the National Green Hydrogen Mission at MNRE; Jinoos Shariati, First Secretary (Trade) at the British High Commission in India; Anjan Kumar Mishra, Secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board; and Laura Aylett, First Secretary (Climate & Energy) at the British High Commission.
Importance of Safety and International Collaboration
Delivering the keynote address, Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, stressed that strong safety frameworks and global cooperation will be essential for the large-scale deployment of hydrogen technologies.
A key highlight of the conference was the participation of national regulatory bodies responsible for hydrogen safety and standards. Officials from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation discussed regulatory approaches to safety compliance, hazard management, and risk assessment for hydrogen systems. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Indian Standards shared updates on the evolving hydrogen standards framework and efforts to align Indian standards with global best practices.
Technical Discussions and Industry Participation
Technical sessions featured experts from industry, academia, and research institutions who discussed safety measures across the hydrogen value chain. Participants included representatives from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, NTPC Limited, Automotive Research Association of India, Cochin Shipyard Limited, Arup, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Cochin University of Science and Technology, and Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Discussions covered a wide range of topics including hydrogen safety in industrial and mobility applications, the safe design and operation of hydrogen production and storage systems, risk assessment methodologies, and lessons from incident case studies. Experts also highlighted emerging technologies such as advanced sensor systems and artificial intelligence-enabled monitoring tools for improving hydrogen safety.
Strengthening India–UK Green Energy Partnership
The conference concluded with a shared commitment by India and the United Kingdom to deepen cooperation on developing safety standards, building regulatory capacity, and strengthening the hydrogen safety ecosystem. Participants agreed that collaboration between governments, industry, and research institutions will be crucial to enabling the reliable and large-scale adoption of green hydrogen technologies.
The outcomes of the conference are expected to contribute to the ongoing implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission and support India’s ambition to become a globally competitive hub for green hydrogen production and innovation.
