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Shri Vilas Muttemwar, Minister of State for Non Conventional Energy Sources (Independent Charge) stated in the Rajya Sabha today in written reply that foreign companies are permitted to set up 100 per cent owned subsidiaries or joint ventures, with Indian partners for financial and/or technical collaboration, in new and renewable energy, including hydrogen energy. Foreign companies can also set up new and renewable energy projects on Build-Own and Operate (BOO) basis.
Shri Muttemwar also said that hydrogen energy technology is in its nascent stage of development and informed that at present 23 Research and Development (R&D) projects are under implementation in different institutions across the country. However, in order to prepare a National Hydrogen Energy Road Map for the country and to oversee its implementation, the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has constituted a National Hydrogen Energy Board comprising representatives from Government, industry, academia, research institutions and exports. Shri Muttemwar further said that R&D thrust areas are hydrogen production, transport, storage, delivery and its applications in systems /devices in transport, portable and stationary modes.
The Minister also informed that the 3 competing alternate fuels namely, hydrogen, bio-fuels and synthetic fuels are still in the development stage. The scientific and technical challenge is to make them and their applications in systems/devices for transport, portable and stationary model commercially competitive. Alternate fuels, including hydrogen, are expected to play a dominant role sometime in the future.
RCJ/CP/nonconventional27.4
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