ARCI Workshop on Hydrogen Value Chain Advancements
The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous R&D centre of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, organized the 9th Workshop on 'Recent Advancements in Hydrogen Value Chain' on October 13, 2026, at IIT Madras Research Park, Chennai. The event commemorated National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day and attracted about 150 participants including eminent scientists, academicians, industry experts, technologists, research scholars, and students.
Technical Focus Areas
The workshop deliberations covered the entire hydrogen value chain including hydrogen generation, storage, purification, and utilization, with particular emphasis on fuel-cell technologies, mobility applications, safety, standards, and industrial deployment. Dr. R. Vijay, Director of ARCI, highlighted that India is working on research and development of advanced materials for indigenous hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies, specifically mentioning electrocatalysts, bipolar plates, membrane electrode assemblies, fuel-cell stacks, and alkaline electrolysers for hydrogen generation.
Strategic Commitments and Vision
Prof. R. R. Sonde from IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi outlined five sovereign commitments encompassing energy independence, economic development, net-zero emissions and industrial decarbonization, universal energy access, and a clean environment. He emphasized the importance of harnessing diverse hydrogen-production pathways based on locally available biomass to accelerate the establishment of a domestic hydrogen ecosystem, develop a robust hydrogen economy, and strengthen national energy independence.
Environmental Imperative and Multidisciplinary Approach
Dr. R. Subasri, Associate Director of ARCI, emphasized the growing importance of transitioning towards cleaner and more sustainable energy technologies to protect the environment and safeguard the planet for future generations. The discussions collectively reflected the multidisciplinary nature of hydrogen technology development, extending from fundamental materials research and advanced component engineering to system integration and industrial deployment.