India's Blue Hydrogen Strategy: Using Coal Gasification and CCUS for Energy Security

India is weighing a shift toward blue hydrogen by combining coal gasification with carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). This approach aims to leverage domestic coal reserves to reduce reliance on imported natural gas and expensive electrolyser supply chains while meeting climate goals. Critics argue that current certification schemes focus too much on the color of hydrogen rather than actual lifecycle emissions. By integrating CCUS, coal-to-hydrogen pathways could potentially meet strict carbon intensity thresholds and provide a more secure, sovereign energy source for the country's industrial needs.