Two ports on India’s east coast and one port on the west coast will be developed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) as hydrogen hubs under the Green Shipping Initiative as part of the Maritime India Vision 2030.
Union Minister for Ports and Shipping Sarabananda Sonowal said that the Paradip Port in Odisha, Deendayal Port in Gujarat and V.O.Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu will be developed for handling, to storage and green hydrogen generation to cater to India’s hydrogen production goals by 2030.
The minister said the Ports and Shipping ministry had already initiated steps to develop green ports which will prioritize cutting greenhouse gas emissions to make the Indian maritime sector 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.
Last November, the minister launched the National Center of Excellence for Green Port and Shipping to help major Indian ports source as much as 60% of their energy demand from clean sources like solar and wind.
Some of the steps that the government will take to make the ports carbon-free include setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources; acquisition of equipment to monitor environmental pollution; acquisition of dust suppression systems; setting up of garbage disposal systems for sewage treatment plants in ports and ships; and developing shore reception facility for wastes from ships.
The ministry has also started upgrading the major ports with features like shore-to-ship power, use and promotion of electrically powered port equipment, storage, and bunkering facilities for eco-friendly fuels like hydrogen and ammonia.
The government has said India will implement International Maritime Organization-energy efficiency requirements for ships and carbon intensity requirements on all its coastal or international vessels to help achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets.
