Swiss hydrogen technology company SoHHytec is preparing a significant international expansion into India, targeting Maharashtra as a hub for large-scale solar-driven green hydrogen projects.
The planned investment of approximately €480 million ($577 million) represents one of the company’s largest overseas commitments and comes after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Government of Maharashtra at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The agreement establishes a framework for deploying multiple green hydrogen facilities across the state. SoHHytec has indicated that its projects could create more than 4,600 direct jobs, reinforcing Maharashtra’s growing clean energy ecosystem while supporting India’s broader decarbonization agenda. Funding of nearly INR 53 billion will be directed toward projects utilizing SoHHytec’s patented solar “Arb” technology, which converts sunlight and water directly into green hydrogen, bypassing conventional electrolysis.
Beyond hydrogen, the Arb system produces medical-grade oxygen, process heat, and electricity, with full automation designed for industrial integration. Originating from research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), the technology is positioned as a cost-efficient and self-sustaining solution for renewable energy applications.
The green hydrogen produced through SoHHytec’s initiative is intended to supply hard-to-abate sectors including steel, chemicals, fertilizers, mobility, and energy storage. This aligns with India’s decarbonization targets and its strategy to reduce fossil fuel dependency while fostering clean-tech manufacturing.
Policy support in Maharashtra, combined with rising industrial demand for green fuels, signals increasing confidence from international investors in India’s hydrogen market. By establishing large-scale production facilities in the state, SoHHytec aims to position Maharashtra as a leading hub for solar-to-hydrogen and solar-to-fuel technologies, potentially influencing the trajectory of India’s energy transition over the next decade.
