India Accelerates Green Hydrogen Ambitions with Key Indo-German Pacts

India took significant strides in its green hydrogen journey yesterday with two landmark agreements involving German partners, reinforcing its position as an emerging powerhouse in sustainable energy production, export, and infrastructure development. These moves align with the National Green Hydrogen Mission's goals of achieving 5 million tonnes of annual production by 2030, fostering energy security, job creation, and emissions reductions while positioning India as a key supplier to Europe.

In a high-profile ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, India's Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Germany's DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V.) to collaborate on hydrogen integration into natural gas systems. The pact aims to adapt DVGW's technical standards for Indian contexts, focusing initially on hydrogen blending and evolving further toward hydrogen networks. Key areas include developing a Hydrogen Readiness Testing Scheme for materials and components, a bilateral certification database for hydrogen-compatible equipment, high-fidelity network simulation tools, and knowledge sharing on safety protocols, leak detection, and odorization practices. This supports PNGRB's efforts to amend its regulatory framework for hydrogen pipelines and blends, enabling decarbonization in refineries, city gas distribution, and beyond.

Complementing this infrastructure focus, German energy firm Uniper sealed a binding long-term offtake deal with India's AM Green Ammonia for up to 500,000 tons annually of green ammonia. Supplies from AM Green's 1 MTPA facility in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, are slated to begin in 2028, aiding Europe's decarbonization in sectors like chemicals, fertilizers, and shipping. Uniper CEO Michael Lewis described it as a pioneering supply corridor between India and Europe, while AM Green founder Anil Kumar Chalamalasetty emphasized its milestone status for India's global energy role.

These developments follow recent momentum, including last month's biomass-to-hydrogen funding initiative and ongoing projects under the NGHM. With several green hydrogen ventures in pipeline and falling electrolyzer costs, experts predict 2026 as a breakout year for scalable investments, potentially transforming Asia's energy landscape.

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"The landmark MoU between PNGRB and DVGW, alongside the Uniper-AM Green long-term offtake agreement, are pivotal advancements for India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, bridging regulatory expertise with commercial export pathways and accelerating our journey to become a global green hydrogen hub. These Indo-German collaborations will drive safe infrastructure scaling, foster innovation in blending and standards, and strongly support our 5 MMT production target by 2030, energy independence, and net-zero ambitions by 2070."

Ajay Mishra, Director General, Renewable Energy Society of India (RESI)