On 2 May 2022, the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and of the Republic of India, under the co-chairmanship of the Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, respectively, held the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations. As per the final Joint Statement "both sides agreed to develop an Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap based on the inputs by the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force supported by the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF)."

Structure of the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force

Before, the Indian Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh and German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr. Robert Habeck had signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to establish an Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force.

Common Understanding basis for the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force

The Governments of the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Germany share the common goal of reducing their import dependency from fossil fuels and to decarbonize their economies. Both nations are committed to develop a national green hydrogen economy. The common long-term goal is to make green hydrogen economically viable. This requires a global upscale of green hydrogen production and offtake. India and Germany therefore support the establishment of a global green hydrogen economy, to facilitate the achievement of the goals under the Paris Agreement. Both sides are convinced that common goals can be achieved better in close cooperation, building on individual strengths and capacities.

The Subworking Groups of the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force

The Task Force comprises of four Subworking Groups along the green hydrogen value chain:

1. Plant Engineering and Production
2. Transport, Storage and Consumption
3. Finance, Insurance Industry and Trading
4. Quality Infrastructure, Safety and Legal Framework

Each of the Subworking Groups is led by its elected Heads, who streamline the topics of discussion, convene meetings, and present the decisions taken to the Co-Chairs of the Task Force.

Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force Kick-Off Meeting

After six bilateral meetings on green hydrogen under the Indo-German Energy Forum, the introductory meeting of the Task Force itself was co-chaired by Dr. Vandana Kumar, then Additional Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), and Dr. Stefanie Schmidt-Lübbert, then Head Bilateral Energy Cooperation, Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The meeting was organised by the Indo-German Energy Forum Support Office on 20 September 2022.

Since the establishment of the Task Force, participants from both governments, the private sector and research institutes have met under each of the subworking groups to identify areas of cooperation, offer inputs for the development of the green hydrogen roadmap and establish activities to be carried out as action points. Members are forming part of the wide Indo-German Green Hydrogen network wherein they contribute to the political dialogue by showcasing their role in the green hydrogen economy.

Activities under the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force

Deliverables under the Subworking Groups 

Subworking Group 1 on Plant Engineering & Production of Green Hydrogen

Completed:

• Exchange on CO2-Certificates as additional revenue stream for green hydrogen sales with dedicated session on 15.02.2022:
  "CO2 Certificates as Additional Revenue Stream for Green Hydrogen Sales"
• Supplier directories for green hydrogen and fuel cell technology:
  Supplier Directory P2X (VDMA publication)
  Fuel Cell Industry Guide Germany 2022 (VDMA publication)
• List of green hydrogen projects in Germany (The list is continuously updated and provided exclusively to members of the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force).
• Presentation on "Deliverables under Subworking Group 1".

Ongoing:

• Elaboration of list of green hydrogen projects in India.
  The list is continuously updated and provided exclusively to members of the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force.
• List on upcoming conferences and trade fairs on green hydrogen.
  The list is continuously updated and provided exclusively to members of the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force.

Subworking Group 2 on Transport, Storage and Consumption

Completed:

• Clarification on minimum qualifying criteria for international H2Global/Hint.co tender especially on green chemical experience requirement.
  Tender information and clarification by H2Global/Hint.co has been shared: Deliveries - 675894-2022 - TED Tenders Electronic Daily (europa.eu) / https://ted.europa.eu/TED/search/searchResult.do.

Ongoing:

• Organisation of a dedicated session on Green H2 Cluster or networks/valleys with India Hydrogen Alliance, Cluster Renewable Energy Hamburg, DVGW and others (scheduled for 12.05.2023).
• Organisation of a knowledge session on international offtake of green hydrogen and its derivatives in shipping with perspective to include aviation ("Decarbonising Shipping in India" scheduled for 18.04.2023)

Subworking Group 3 on Finance, Insurance Industry & Trading

Completed:

• Presentation on Carbon Markets for Green Hydrogen Projects (see webinar on 15.02.2023 "CO2 Certificates as Additional Revenue Stream for Green Hydrogen Sales").
• A dedicated session on German funding schemes and credit lines for Green Hydrogen Projects in India (22.03.2023).
• Presentation on the "German Funding Schemes for Green Hydrogen Projects” by Mr. Tobias Winter, Director, Indo- German Energy Forum (IGEF-SO)
• Presentation on the “PtX Platform- PtX Growth and Development Fund” by Mr. Karim ould Chih, KfW / Power-to-X DG GmbH

Ongoing:

• More information on reliable national and international offtake to make projects in India bankable.
• Idea on the establishment of a Govt. backed PtX offtake guarantee fund to be further discussed.
• Promotion and information on first large scale (up to 900 Mio. EUR) international tender for green ammonia, green methanol and e-SAF. Information is continuously being shared.

Subworking Group 4 on Quality Infrastructure, Safety and Legal Framework

Completed:

• Presentation on EU Requirements for Renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) by Ms. Johanna Friese, PtX Hub Germany (08.12.2022).
• Presentation on Regulatory Compliances for Commissioning of Hydrogen Projects by Mrs. Jyotsna Chaturvedi & Mr. Akhand Pratap Singh Chauhan, Maheshwari & Co. (06.03.2023).

Ongoing:

• Compatibility of green certification schemes and sustainability criteria to be further discussed. A dedicated presentation on the EU sustainability criteria and an analysis of compatibility in regard to aspects such as banking regulation and bidding zones to be conducted (scheduled for 11 April 2023).
• A gap analysis of the existing framework for safety standards in India to be conducted.
• A national testing facility for new hydrogen related equipment shall be considered under the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force.
• Analysis of social impacts of green hydrogen plants in rural India to be further examined.