Bengaluru: A research team at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has developed a breakthrough system that converts agricultural waste into high-purity green hydrogen — and, uniquely, removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits. With a capacity of 5 kilograms per hour and over 99 percent hydrogen purity, the innovation marks a major advance in carbon-negative fuel production, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said on Friday.
Describing the development as both a national and global achievement, Joshi praised the self-reliant, climate-positive system developed by Professor S Dasappa and his team, calling it a “prime example of transforming fundamental science into impactful technology.”
The process uses bio-waste such as crop stubble, which would otherwise be burned or left to release methane, to generate green hydrogen with net-negative carbon emissions. “Every kilogram of hydrogen produced here removes more than one kilogram of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” Joshi said during a visit to the institute. “This is a truly self-sufficient innovation.”
The innovation is particularly significant as India accelerates implementation of the Rs 19,744-crore National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to produce 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030. Joshi said the IISc’s work aligns perfectly with the mission’s goal of building globally competitive and sustainable hydrogen technologies based on local resources.
He reiterated the broader ambitions of the programme, including the development of 125 GW of additional renewable energy capacity, Rs 8 lakh crore in total investments, 6 lakh new jobs, and an annual reduction of 50 million metric tons of CO₂.
The minister also highlighted recent progress under the mission, such as government funding for 3,000 MW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity and allocations for 8.6 lakh tons of annual green hydrogen productio a
While commending the innovation, Joshi placed four key challenges before India’s scientific community in scaling hydrogen technologies: hydrogen conservation, cost reduction of electrolysis systems, reducing the cost of hydrogen-powered vehicles and reducing the price of green hydrogen.
Noting that any national program cannot succeed solely with financial assistance, Joshi said, “True progress comes not from subsidies, but from science.” He pointed to the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at IISc as being well-placed to lead next-generation research in nanomaterials, thin films, and advanced fuel cell systems. The minister stressed on the urgency to reduce the current cost of green hydrogen from Rs 300-400 per kg to Rs 100. He recalled Amitabh Kant's goal of bringing it down to USD 1/kg by 2030.
Concluding his remarks, Joshi assured full support from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for pilot projects, industry collaborations, and financial assistance to scale the innovation. “Together, let us make India a frontrunner in the global green hydrogen economy,” he said.