India is exploring the potential of green hydrogen as a long-term alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for household cooking, amid growing concerns over global energy supply disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis.

According to Ajay Sood, hydrogen-based cooking systems powered by renewable energy could eventually provide a cooking experience similar to conventional LPG while reducing India’s dependence on imported fuel.

Sood said the concept involves the use of solar-powered electrolysers that split water into hydrogen and oxygen, generating clean-burning hydrogen fuel for cooking applications. The hydrogen flame can be ignited using an electric spark, offering a familiar and efficient cooking experience for households.

The technology is currently at the research and development stage, although several Indian startups have already demonstrated prototype hydrogen-based cooking solutions using compact on-site electrolysers. These systems reportedly operate with zero carbon emissions, producing only water vapour as a by-product.

Officials noted that a small quantity of water and electricity can support several hours of cooking. Demonstration systems have shown that nearly six hours of cooking can be achieved using around 100 ml of water and 1 kWh of electricity, highlighting the efficiency potential of the technology.

State-owned NTPC is also advancing hydrogen cooking trials through its research and development arm NETRA. The organisation has successfully demonstrated hydrogen-based cooking using fuel supplied from its Greater Noida research facility.

The initiative aligns with India’s broader clean energy strategy under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore. The mission aims to strengthen energy security, reduce fossil fuel imports, support decarbonisation, and position India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and innovation.

Experts believe hydrogen-based cooking technologies could play a significant role in the future energy mix, particularly if renewable electricity generation and electrolyser manufacturing scale up in the coming years.