Author: Shalini Bharti, Research Analyst
30 April 2025
India remains focused and active within the green hydrogen space as global attention grows, with development, investment, and government backing examples that support the country’s plans. With April 2025 getting closer, specific events in the generation of renewable power, government guidelines, and corporate tie-ups are the playing ground for India to take its place in the global clean hydrogen stage. Here are more details of the recent trends occurring in the green hydrogen sector in India.
1. A New Move towards Clean Rail Transport: India’s Hydrogen-Powered Train
April 1, 2025, India tested the first hydrogen-powered train for the first time on the Jind-Sonipat route, which is a pioneer in green railway transport. The train is powered by a 1,200-horsepower engine, making it the most powerful hydrogen-powered train in the world.
Project Scope: The trials are set to be done on the Kalka-Shimla route by the middle of 2025.
Impact: Reduces the use of diesel, lowers environmental pollution rates, and upgrades the rail transport system.
General: The increasing prominence of hydrogen-fueled transportation only strengthens India’s position as the frontrunner of clean mobility strategy, which is a part of its commitments for greening the country.
2. NRL's Green Hydrogen Project in Numaligarh, Assam
April 2, 2025, Indian refinery company Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) floated a tender for 100 MW of renewable power, which needs to be dispatchable for its green hydrogen plant in Assam. This particular project is also in line with India’s strategic shift towards green hydrogen that would facilitate regional diversification of energy.
Investment Details: The process to be financed will involve 20 MW of renewable energy, with another 100 MW to be developed by FY 26.
Long-term Vision: Positions Assam as a green hydrogen hub.
3. BPCL and Sembcorp Sign JV Agreement to Boost Green Hydrogen Transition and Renewable Energy in India
April 8, 2025, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Sembcorp signed a joint venture deal to work on green hydrogen and renewable energy ventures across India. As a result, the partnerships will further the decentralization of the energy transition and increase the generation of green hydrogen.
Project Scope: The key aspects of the research include green ammonia, reduction of emissions in ports, and other aspects of the hydrogen industry.
Investment Target: For BPCL, it is to develop a capacity of 10 GW of renewable energy, while for Sembcorp, the focal areas are steel and ammonia sectors.
Policy Implications: This tie is well coordinated with India’s target for a net-zero emission by 2040 and industrial transition.
4. GH2 India Hosts Strategic Roundtable on Green Hydrogen
April 13, 2025, GH2 India conducted a roundtable with the French delegation to promote the green hydrogen sector in India. Some of the important discussions drawn from the discussion highlighted the challenges and prospects of green hydrogen implementation.
Challenges: Low tariff, availability of skilled workforce & political support make India promising.
International Collaboration: Strengthens India’s export potential to Europe and Asia.
5. Greenko’s $4.2 Billion Integrated Renewable Energy Project
April 21, 2025, one of the largest GW-scale renewable energy and storage projects in the world, Greenko’s integrated renewable energy project costing USD 4.2 billion, is coming up in Andhra Pradesh. This is said to be located in Pinnapuram with planned new renewable power generation capacity of 4,000 MW solar, 1,000 MW wind, and 1,680 MW pumped hydro storage.
Investment Details: $3B for solar/wind; $1.2B for pumped hydro storage.
Project Impact: It will contribute to the decarbonization of the alloy steel and aluminum industries.
6. Hyundai and Indian Oil’s Collaboration for Hydrogen Vehicles
Hyundai Motor India Limited tied up with Indian Oil on April 23, 2025, to launch hydrogen-powered vehicles in the country. The partnership also entails driving Hyundai’s NEXO hydrogen SUV for forty thousand kilometers.
Project Details: Testing Hyundai NEXO over 40,000 km, as well as providing TCO analysis alongside evaluation of its feasibility.
Future Strategy: The Hydrogen Innovation Centre was set up to enhance research capabilities, with IIT Madras having sponsored the Centre.
Policy Implications: This collaboration corresponds to the provision of clean mobility under the National Hydrogen Mission.
7. India Launches Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI)
On April 30, 2025, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organized a National Workshop on ‘Opportunities for MSMEs in Green Hydrogen value chain domain in New Delhi. A total of more than 300 delegates, comprising a cross-section of various stakeholders, participated in the workshop to discuss the proposition of MSMEs concerning the development of green hydrogen in India.
Key Announcement: Union Minister of India Prahlad Joshi introduced a Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) for addressing credibility and reliability related to green hydrogen. It is a certification scheme that will be used to provide a framework through which green hydrogen production will be certified in India.
Under this, the Government of India is in the process of executing the National Green Hydrogen Mission to make India a production, utilization, and export centre of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
Development of Green Hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country
Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments
Creation of over six lakh jobs
Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. One lakh crore
Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions
India is witnessing the rapid evolution of its green hydrogen sector to fulfill its investment plans and policy frameworks, which make it a global leader in sustainable energy. Also, India expresses its commitment to achieving the targets of green hydrogen through the combined efforts of public and private stakeholders, major projects, joint ventures, and innovative solutions such as hydrogen-fueled trains and vehicles. At this point, India is on its way to becoming a major exporter of green hydrogen with growing emphasis on international collaboration and certification, which will contribute significantly to global decarbonization efforts.
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