India is rapidly solidifying its position as a major player in the global green hydrogen landscape, according to Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe. This assessment comes as India ramps up its green hydrogen production targets and fosters collaborations to meet both domestic and international demand.
Chatzimarkakis, who has observed India's progress since the 2022 India-EU Green Hydrogen Talks, stated, "I have witnessed the entire journey—from when green hydrogen was something new in India to today when you are becoming a global leader". He made these remarks at the third International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025), which took place in New Delhi on November 11-12.
India's green hydrogen sector is characterized by a growing domestic market and significant export potential, particularly to Europe, which is aligned with the European Union's renewable hydrogen import goals. The country is not only focused on producing green methanol and ammonia but is also actively working towards meeting international demands for these products.
Several factors contribute to India's promising outlook in the green hydrogen sector. The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in January 2023, serves as a cornerstone of India's strategy to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070. The mission aims to establish India as a global hub for the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
The NGHM has an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore until Financial Year 2029-30, including ₹17,490 crore for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme. The mission aims to facilitate the production of 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of green hydrogen by 2030, potentially attracting over ₹8 lakh crore in investments and creating over 600,000 jobs. It is also expected to reduce fossil fuel imports by more than ₹1 lakh crore and avoid nearly 50 MMT of greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2030.
India is actively developing the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks needed to support the green hydrogen sector. Green hydrogen hubs have been identified at Deendayal Port in Gujarat, V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu, and Paradip Port in Odisha. The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI), launched in April 2025, provides a national framework to certify hydrogen as "green" based on its greenhouse gas emissions.
However, challenges remain in scaling up green hydrogen production in India. As of August 2025, only a small fraction of planned green hydrogen capacity was operational, with the majority of projects still in the announcement phase. Key barriers include a lack of committed buyers, high production costs, varying definitions of green hydrogen, and inadequate infrastructure for storage and transportation.
To address these challenges, the Indian government is implementing policies to reduce green hydrogen production costs to $1.5 per kg by 2030. These measures include financial incentives, support for pilot projects, and the development of green hydrogen hubs.
Despite the challenges, India's commitment to green hydrogen is evident in the progress made so far. Nineteen companies have been allocated production capacity for 8.62 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen annually, and 15 firms have been awarded licenses to manufacture 3,000 MW of electrolyzers. India's first port-based green hydrogen pilot has been commissioned at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, and hydrogen mobility pilots have been launched across 10 routes.
With its ambitious targets, supportive policies, and growing momentum, India is well-positioned to become a major global exporter of green hydrogen.
