India, EU adopt ‘work plan’ for cooperation in green hydrogen space

In an important development India and the European Union (EU) have finalized a comprehensive roadmap to develop the green hydrogen sector and focus on infrastructure advancement, technology collaboration and strengthening supply chains.

Discussions to enhance cooperation in this sector took place during the 10th India-EU Energy Panel meeting in Brussels recently.

At the meeting, a “work plan” was adopted for the third phase (2025-2028) of the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, emphasizing collaboration in five key areas: green hydrogen, offshore wind energy, regional connectivity, electricity market integration and smart grids, energy efficiency, and energy and climate diplomacy, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The official statement of the MEA held, “The agenda for green hydrogen cooperation includes feasibility assessments for infrastructure, regulatory and technology partnerships, and bolstering supply chains.”

The energy panel reviewed priorities for the energy transition and evaluated the progress achieved during the second phase of the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (2021-2024).

The meeting was attended by representatives of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Power from the Indian side and Directorate General for Energy and Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission, from the EU side.

The two sides have charted out the framework for green hydrogen cooperation, which includes cooperation on green hydrogen policies of India and the EU. EU and EU Member States participated in the International Conference on Green Hydrogen 2024 in India, while India joined as an exclusive country partner of European Hydrogen Week 2024.

India and the EU also entered into long term research commitments to jointly support research in clean energy projects as part of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group on Clean and Green Technologies, which was established in January 2023.

The development has come to the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi signing cooperation in green hydrogen and other renewable energy space with Italy and Germany during his recent visit.