At the FICCI Green Hydrogen Summit 2025 in New Delhi, India signaled sharper momentum in its hydrogen strategy, unveiling project allocations that collectively represent 862,000 tones of annual production capacity.
Nineteen companies have been awarded contracts under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, alongside 3,000 megawatts of electrolyzer manufacturing capacity distributed among 15 firms. These announcements mark a clear step in building the industrial base for an energy vector India expects will capture 10% of global demand by 2030—a market projected to exceed 100 million tones.
The government’s ambitions rest heavily on renewable energy expansion. By June 2025, India had installed 237 gigawatts of renewable capacity: 119 GW solar, 52 GW wind, and 49 GW large hydro, complemented by 8.78 GW of nuclear. Collectively, these sources already constitute more than half of total generation capacity, placing India ahead of schedule on one of its Paris Agreement commitments. Still, the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power by 2030 demands the addition of roughly 50 GW annually—an aggressive buildout that will test both infrastructure and financing capacity.
Industry voices at the summit pointed to the delicate balance between policy support and market reality. Rajat Seksaria, Chair of FICCI’s Green Hydrogen Committee and CEO of Adani New Industries, identified three pillars underpinning investor confidence: the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to scale manufacturing, the launch of the world’s first green ammonia auction to create offtake, and the government’s consistency in signaling long-term backing. Yet Vipul Tuli, Chairman of Sembcorp India, emphasized that competitiveness alone is not sufficient. With recent international tenders showing green hydrogen edging below blue hydrogen on cost, he argued that policy frameworks must prioritize durability over opportunistic price plays.
International collaboration is emerging as a parallel force. Dr. Ewa Suwara of the EU Delegation to India confirmed the creation of an India-EU Hydrogen Task Force following their May 2025 forum in Rotterdam. The mechanism is expected to coordinate industrial strategies and cross-border implementation at a time when Europe is actively seeking reliable supply partners. Domestically, 15 Indian states have announced hydrogen policies, with measures addressing land allocation, water availability, renewable energy banking, and the establishment of hydrogen hubs—critical factors in scaling production beyond pilot stages.
A report released at the summit by FICCI and EY underscored where demand creation will ultimately decide the trajectory. Hard-to-abate sectors such as refining, steel, aviation, and fertilizers remain the primary candidates for hydrogen substitution, given their dependency on carbon-intensive inputs.
