National Pilot Framework: Decentralised Solar–Hydrogen Clean Cooking Infrastructure

Can Solar Hydrogen Cooking Systems Transform Household Energy in India?

India’s energy transition has made strong progress in renewable power generation. Solar capacity is growing rapidly. Green hydrogen policy is evolving. Industrial decarbonisation is also gaining momentum.

However, one major question remains unanswered:

Can clean energy move beyond grid-scale power and transform household cooking infrastructure?

Cooking energy is not optional. It is a daily necessity for more than 300 million households in India.

Despite renewable energy growth, domestic cooking still depends heavily on imported LPG. As a result, this creates:

• Rising fiscal pressure
• Energy security risks
• Exposure to indoor air pollution
• Supply chain vulnerabilities

To address this gap, Garv Industries Pvt. Ltd., a DPIIT-recognised startup (Certificate No. DIPP194460), is developing a structured national pilot.

The goal is simple:

To evaluate whether decentralised solar hydrogen cooking systems in India can become a long-term clean cooking solution.

This is not a technology showcase.

Instead, it is a controlled infrastructure validation project.

The Household Energy Gap in India’s Clean Transition

India’s hydrogen mission, led by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, mainly focuses on:

• Industrial decarbonisation
• Mobility solutions
• Export opportunities

However, household cooking remains largely excluded from hydrogen adoption plans.

This creates several long-term challenges.

Continued LPG Import Dependence

India still relies heavily on LPG imports for household cooking needs. This increases vulnerability to global price fluctuations.

Subsidy Pressure

Government subsidies continue to face increasing financial pressure.

Indoor Air Pollution

Women are often the most affected by poor indoor air quality caused by traditional cooking systems.

Rural Distribution Challenges

Many rural areas still face fuel delivery and supply issues.

Limitations of Solar Cooking

Traditional solar cooking systems often fail because they lack reliable energy storage.

Therefore, India needs evidence-based clean cooking pilots, not premature nationwide rollouts.

How the Solar Hydrogen Pilot Will Work

Garv Industries Pvt. Ltd. plans to deploy 100 decentralised solar hydrogen cooking systems over an 18 to 24-month pilot period.

Each household system will include:

• 1–1.5 kW rooftop solar PV
• ~250W electrolyser
• Low-pressure hydrogen storage
• Hydrogen-compatible cooking stove
• Multi-layer safety systems
• Battery backup

Safety systems include:

• Pressure relief valves (PRVs)
• Flame arrestors
• Leak detection systems

The target Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is 6–7, which means the solution is ready for pilot testing.

What This Pilot Will Measure

The project will collect real-world data in five important areas.

1. Technical Reliability

Can the system perform consistently in daily household use?

2. Safety Compliance

Can it align with BIS and PESO regulations?

Bureau of Indian Standards
Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation

3. LPG Replacement

How much LPG usage can these systems reduce?

4. Carbon Reduction

The pilot will measure household CO₂ savings.

5. User Adoption

The project will gather direct feedback from households, especially women-led homes.

The expected system lifecycle is 25 years, depending on validation results.

Financial Planning for Solar Hydrogen Cooking Systems in India

Infrastructure projects need financial discipline.

The estimated pilot cost is around ₹2.4 lakh per household.

During large-scale manufacturing, the company aims to reduce costs to ₹1.8–2 lakh per household.

Funding will support:

• Hardware deployment
• Safety certification
• IoT monitoring systems
• Electrolyser durability testing
• Independent audits
• Governance reporting

This phased investment model reduces risk before expansion.

Regulatory Roadmap

Scaling clean cooking infrastructure requires regulatory approval.

The roadmap includes three phases:

Phase 1: Technical Validation

Field testing and safety assessment

Phase 2: Certification

Alignment with national standards

Phase 3: Policy Submission

Reporting findings to public authorities

The company is prioritising validation before scaling.

Leadership Behind the Initiative

Large infrastructure projects need experienced leadership.

The project includes:

Sudhanshu Saini – Founder & CEO

Dr. S. P. Sharma – CTO & Technical Advisor

Former General Manager at NTPC Limited
IIT Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee alumnus

Vijendra Kumar Nagyan – Infrastructure Advisor

Former Senior Vice President at Larsen & Toubro

Prof. R. K. Kotnala – Scientific Lead

Chairman of New Science Creators Institute

Dr. Jyoti Shah – Research & Validation

New Science Creators Institute

Additionally, the company operates with a women-majority board structure.

This strengthens governance diversity while supporting the social goals of clean cooking transformation.

Potential Public Benefits

If successful, solar hydrogen cooking systems in India could deliver major public benefits.

Energy Security

Lower LPG import dependence

Public Health

Cleaner indoor air

Women’s Empowerment

Improved access to locally generated fuel

Environmental Benefits

An estimated 1.6–2 tonnes of CO₂ reduction per household annually

Policy Development

Real-world data for future clean cooking policies

Why Pilot Projects Matter

Large infrastructure transitions do not begin with immediate scale.

They begin with pilot projects that answer critical questions.

This national pilot aims to determine whether solar hydrogen cooking systems in India can become a reliable household energy solution through:

• Structured validation
• Regulatory compliance
• Transparent monitoring
• Strong governance

India’s clean energy future cannot focus only on large-scale power generation.

It must also solve household energy challenges—and clean cooking is one of the biggest opportunities.