Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), recently held discussions with Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and senior state officials to review the progress and potential of two major national initiatives—the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY).
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary underscored Odisha’s strong potential to lead India’s transition to green hydrogen. While acknowledging key challenges such as water availability, renewable energy integration, and infrastructure development, he pointed to the state’s coastal advantages, well-established industrial base, and forward-looking policies as enabling factors for Odisha to become a hub for green hydrogen derivative exports.
Secretary Sarangi echoed these views, stating that Odisha holds a strategic position in India’s green hydrogen expansion. He highlighted growing interest from domestic investors, particularly in developing facilities for producing green ammonia and green methanol near important ports like Paradip and Gopalpur.
The discussions brought together representatives from central ministries, Odisha’s senior administration, and major green hydrogen developers to address the logistical and infrastructural challenges associated with large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia projects—especially those proposed in the Gopalpur SEZ.
The Odisha government reiterated its commitment to fostering a collaborative environment and establishing the state as a preferred destination for investment in green hydrogen production and export, with a clear focus on timely execution.
On the rooftop solar front, PMSG: MBY, a key initiative aimed at promoting solar panel installation on residential rooftops, was also reviewed. The MNRE Secretary and Chief Secretary assessed the state’s progress, after which directions were issued to District Collectors to speed up installation efforts.
To ensure effective implementation, the Chief Secretary emphasized regular State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meetings, proactive coordination with vendors and financial institutions, and timely loan approvals. He also recommended the adoption of the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model, particularly targeting low-income households for solar systems under 1 kW capacity.
Additionally, the Ministry shared successful practices from other states regarding agricultural solarization under the PM KUSUM scheme. Taking note of this, the Chief Secretary instructed the State Nodal Agency to roll out Feeder Level Solarization to bring clean energy benefits to the agricultural sector in Odisha.
