India is making significant strides in the use of green hydrogen as a key tool for its clean energy transition and future export growth, with policymakers and industry leaders highlighting the need for increased production, infrastructure development and international cooperation to achieve both environmental and economic goals.

Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, is increasingly regarded as a key pillar of low-carbon industrial transformation, particularly in hard-to-decarbonise sectors like steel, fertiliser and heavy transport. In an industry forum recently, government authorities announced a coordinated strategy for scaling up production capacity, bolstering the supply chain and developing export markets for green hydrogen and its derivatives such as green ammonia.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission has received substantial response from investors, both domestic and foreign, with the targeted incentives and regulations providing a boost, officials stated. The mission aims to significantly increase green hydrogen production by 2030, reduce fossil fuel dependence and strengthen India's position in the global hydrogen market.

The shift towards green hydrogen is not just about meeting national climate targets under the Paris Agreement; it is also about positioning India as a major player in the future energy market, a senior government official said. The industry representatives observed that electrolyser technology is becoming more affordable and there is an abundance of solar and wind resources in India, which could make the country more competitive in producing green hydrogen at scale.

Stakeholders also highlighted the need to step up international cooperation on technology sharing, standards harmonisation and cross-border trade frameworks to maximise export opportunities, in addition to domestic policy approaches. To connect the Indian green hydrogen value chain with international markets, especially Europe and East Asia, where the demand for clean fuels is projected to grow, multinational partnerships and pilot projects are being initiated.

Scaling green hydrogen would generate economic benefits such as job creation, infrastructure development and improved competitiveness in industry, as well as concrete climate benefits through deep decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, analysts said.

Long-term success, however, relies on continued policy support, access to affordable financing and development of needed storage and transport infrastructure, cautioned industry experts.