Kandla port is being positioned as India’s western export hub, with natural synergies to Europe’s hydrogen gateway at Rotterdam. While a formal corridor is yet to be in place, the alignment between India’s export ambitions and Europe’s import infrastructure makes this one of the most likely green trade routes in the coming decade. With a dedicated export terminal under development, Paradip is expected to supply green ammonia and hydrogen derivatives to energy-hungry East Asian markets. And Tuticorin is emerging as a south-facing hub, collaborating with UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman under regional initiatives like the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This hub supports both reciprocal offtake and re-exports to Europe.

Similarly, Kochi’s Green Hydrogen Hub, supported by the India Hydrogen Alliance and designed with technical inputs from German Development Agency (GIZ), is modelled explicitly on the European Union’s hydrogen valley approach. Meanwhile, Puglia’s Green Hydrogen Valley, in southern Italy, backed by the EU’s IPCEI program, is one of the continent’s largest and most advanced green hydrogen projects, receiving over €370 million in funding for large-scale solar-to-hydrogen production.

Both hubs are being built on the backbone of EU-aligned standards, international certification protocols (including those from the Geneva-based Green Hydrogen Organisation), and a policy architecture developed through the EU–India Clean Energy Partnership. Their common challenge — affordable electrolysers and scale — has opened a channel for technology cooperation, financing models, and shared learnings that cut across continents.

And Kochi is just a case in point. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, three major ports—Deendayal (Kandla), Paradip, and V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin)—have been identified as hubs for the export of green hydrogen and green ammonia. Deendayal has earmarked 3,400 acres and commissioned an initial 1 MW green hydrogen plant as part of a 10 MW program; Tuticorin has allocated 501 acres to leading developers for manufacturing and storage; and Paradip is advancing a dedicated green hydrogen/ammonia export terminal, with MoUs and capex plans totalling Rs 50,800 crore and proposals for a 5 mmtpa export/bunkering berth. Together, these hubs will anchor India’s global play while serving domestic industrial demand.

As India aims for its net-zero goal by 2070, green hydrogen is vital for meaningful decarbonisation in hard-to-change sectors like steel, fertilisers, oil refining, and long-distance transport. While the National Green Hydrogen Mission has laid a solid domestic foundation, global cooperation and investment are crucial for increasing green hydrogen production, reducing costs, and accelerating market growth.

Why global support is crucial 

Green hydrogen, made from renewable energy through electrolysis, is central to India’s decarbonisation plan. The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims for 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of annual production by 2030. However, high upfront costs, reliance on imported electrolyser technology, and the need for new infrastructure present major challenges to implementation. International collaboration is becoming crucial for accessing new technologies, global financing, and long-term sales markets. India is likely to produce more green hydrogen than it can use at home, making it a potential exporter, especially of green ammonia to Europe, Japan, and other markets. However, this opportunity needs agreement on certification, carbon accounting, and definitions of what counts as ‘green’ in different regions. 

Through initiatives like the EU-India Clean Energy Partnership, Horizon Europe-funded research, and platforms such as the GH2 accelerator in Kerala, global teamwork is helping India fill these gaps. For the Kerala project, GH2 India, a multi-stakeholder platform that connects central, state governments and investors along with the entire ecosystem (affiliated to Geneva-based GH2), has started working with the state’s nodal agency, ANERT (Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research & Technology), through an active Green Hydrogen Accelerator programme. The programme is aimed at facilitating finance by enhancing bankability, engaging dialogues with all stakeholders, and rolling out certification standards, among other deliverables.

Germany: Trade bodies driving industry-to-industry collaboration

Germany has taken a leading role in India's international hydrogen partnerships. In early 2023, the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force was formed, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) signed a Joint Declaration of Intent with the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

German trade groups, including the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV) and the German Energy Agency (dena), have facilitated several B2B exchanges with the Indian industry. These efforts have helped identify project pipelines and technology synergies. The Indo-German Chamber of Commerce held focused sessions in Mumbai and Delhi in late 2023, connecting Indian developers with German electrolyser and component manufacturers.

Moreover, Germany’s H2Global Foundation has investigated ways to support green hydrogen sales from India through price discovery contracts. It has also shown interest in importing green ammonia from Indian coastal hubs.

United States: Investment and technology leadership

The US has emerged as another key partner. Under the India-U.S. Strategic Clean Energy Partnership, both countries launched a dedicated ‘Hydrogen Task Force’ which, in the last 18 months, has held multiple technical workshops involving the U.S. Department of Energy, Indian PSUs like NTPC, and private sector players.

In 2023, the U.S.-based Green Hydrogen Coalition partnered with Indian clean tech firms to build feasibility studies for domestic hydrogen hubs. US industry associations, such as the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA), have also initiated dialogues on electrolyser standards and certification mechanisms.

Private investment flows have followed suit. Companies like Ohmium (a US-India electrolyser manufacturer) expanded its India footprint with a 2 GW facility in Karnataka, backed by US venture capital. Additionally, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is exploring blended finance structures to support early-stage hydrogen projects in India.

Other global collaborations

Beyond Germany and the U.S., several other countries and trade blocs have acted in the past two years:

European Union: The EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership has funded technical studies and pilot projects. The EU has also proposed green hydrogen import corridors from India via green ammonia.

Japan: Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), alongside the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), has been actively exploring green hydrogen sourcing from India, with Japanese firms participating in co-development MoUs in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. In August 2025, India and Japan signed a joint declaration to collectively develop clean hydrogen and ammonia ecosystems, covering R&D, trade, infrastructure, and standards. Japanese firms like IHI Corporation, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Mitsui OSK Lines, Mizuho Bank, and Tokyo Century have signed agreements to develop green ammonia facilities in Odisha. 

Australia: Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has signed multiple green hydrogen agreements with Indian firms, including JSW and NTPC, committing to invest in electrolyser manufacturing and joint research and development.

Middle East: Trade councils in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are collaborating with Indian firms to co-develop hydrogen projects for mutual offtake, creating a regional trade network. The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative involves Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub, an integrated facility with renewable generation, electrolysis, ammonia conversion, and export infrastructure. Last year, Gurugram-based ACME Power and a Norwegian firm announced that they are jointly developing a large green ammonia facility from the Duqm Green Hydrogen Hub. 

A strategic export opportunity

These collaborations are not just about technology transfer; they are laying the groundwork for India to become a significant global exporter of green hydrogen derivatives. Bilateral deals are being considered with Germany, Japan, and the EU, aiming to secure future offtake agreements, especially for green ammonia and methanol. This potential for export presents significant economic opportunities for India in the global hydrogen supply chains.

India’s geographical and solar advantages make it an ideal location for solar energy production. With trade agreements and carbon intensity certification, India can surely become a preferred supplier in the global hydrogen supply chain. 

The road ahead

The past 24 months have seen unprecedented momentum in green hydrogen diplomacy and cross-border collaboration. Trade associations and international stakeholders are playing a catalytic role in building a globally integrated hydrogen economy. As these partnerships are maturing, they are unlocking investment, accelerating innovation, and helping shape cohesive certification and carbon accounting frameworks, all essentials for global trade. International collaboration is not just about finance or technology, it is also about building policy convergence, particularly in the mutual recognition of green hydrogen definitions, and ensuring a green premium is viable through mandates and carbon penalties, rather than short-term subsidies.

As highlighted by industry voices, India has the potential to produce more green hydrogen than it consumes, positioning itself as a strategic energy exporter. With the proper international mechanisms, India can transition from an energy importer to a global energy exporter, reshaping its geopolitical influence while helping lead the world in the decarbonisation journey.