Factors affecting green hydrogen bunkering at the Indian coast

Abstract

The rising global action to decarbonize shipping, green hydrogen has been identified as a potential alternative fuel, especially for coastal economies such as India. This study investigates the determinants of the potential for green hydrogen bunkering along the Indian coast. An eight set of frameworks was constructed to assess the preparedness and strategic feasibility of such facilities. To minimize complexity and uncover underlying patterns, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used in IBM SPSS. This aided in the discovery of a subset of latent constructs that aggregate corresponding sub-factors into higher-order thematic components and provide insight into how different components interact to produce feasibility. Supplementary statistical tests supported the data as being sufficient for such dimension reduction. The findings offer a better sense of how cost, technical, social acceptability, policy-oriented, infrastructural, and market-based factors intersect in this new space. These findings are meant to guide stakeholders ranging from policymakers and port authorities to industry investors on where interventions can be most effective. Although the research is exploratory and subject to some methodological and contextual limitations, it provides a starting point toward strategic planning for green hydrogen uptake in India's maritime sector.