India is using its domestic market to expand hydrogen projects, and Germany is a potential export destination. As part of a broader strategy, the countries cooperate economically and technologically in energy transition projects.
India’s investments in renewable energy sources and grid renewal provide investors with the necessary guarantees to finance long-term hydrogen projects. By utilizing dollar and euro loans, the country aims to reduce risks and costs, and export-oriented projects are a key part of the hydrogen strategy.
In other words, German partners play a key role in reducing investment costs and launching new projects, while the Indian domestic market provides the industry with the long-term guarantees it needs. Panelists at the conference organized by the Indian Embassy in Berlin, Thyssenkrupp and the World Energy Council highlighted India’s position as the third largest producer of gray hydrogen after Russia and China and the world’s leading importer of ammonia.
Versatile strategies
Greenko Group, in cooperation with Belgium’s John Cockerill, aims to double the production capacity of the OEM electrolyzer in a few months, according to the company’s founder. They express confidence in the Indian market and production capacity.
“We don’t need subsidies. In India, the price of green hydrogen without subsidies is already less than $3/kg,” says Mahesh Kolli, founder of Greenko Group.
India and Germany are seeking to diversify their investment and import/export strategy. Indian hydrogen companies are actively involved in projects in Oman and Egypt. At the same time, the German government is developing its hydrogen strategy, focusing on tenders and auctions with various arrangements. Currently, Germany sees South America, Australia, Canada, Namibia and Mauritania as its ideal hydrogen partners.
“India will be part of Germany’s national hydrogen strategy. I’m pretty sure, yes,” said Till Mansmann, innovation commissioner for green hydrogen at Germany’s education ministry.
Mansmann, a physicist by training, highlighted Germany’s long delays in investment decisions, but emphasized that the country’s experience with LNG terminals will influence the future hydrogen acceleration law.
The panelists emphasized that top German government officials are actively traveling to shape this strategy, suggesting that the trips of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economy Minister Robert Habeck should be looked at to understand the country’s future hydrogen strategy.
“We will import 70 percent of our hydrogen needs in 2030, and the situation will not change until 2045,” Mansmann said.
The conference did not highlight any divergent interests between Germany and India in the field of hydrogen. However, India is looking to sell energy carriers and low-carbon products at a higher price and expand its presence in higher-value markets, which have historically been a German specialty. In addition, some participants suggested the idea of ​​large German conglomerates setting up or using subsidiaries in India.
