Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force

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)."

The Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force was agreed upon on 2 May 2022

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.

 

The four Subworking Groups under the Task Force have been formed to cover topics across the green hydrogen value chain

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.

Dr. Vandana Kumar, then Additional Secretary, MNRE, and Dr. Stefanie Schmid-Lübbert, then Head Bilateral Energy Cooperation, BMWK, co-charing the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force.

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

20.09.2022

Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force Meeting

25.09.-30.09.2022

High-ranking government delegation on Green Hydrogen to Brussels, Rotterdam and Hamburg

26.09.-30.09.2022

Private sector delegation on Green Hydrogen and Wind Energy to Hamburg, Germany

28.09.2022

Indo-German Energy Dialogue on Green Hydrogen Production with Offshore Wind

29.09.2022

Indo-German Exchange on Green Hydrogen Support Programmes

16.10.2022

German participation in the World Hydrogen Energy Summit & Expo 2022 in New Delhi, India (Fraunhofer and others)

17.10.-19.10.2022

German participation at the 3rd edition of International Conference & Exhibition on Pathways for Global Partnership in Green Energy: Powering Aatmanirbhar Bharat & the World, New Delhi, India

23.11.2022

Subworking Group 1 Meeting on Plant Engineering & Production of Green Hydrogen

29.11.2022

Workshop on Safety Standards for Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia and Green Methanol

08.12.2022

Subworking Group 4 Meeting on Quality Infrastructure, Safety & Legal Framework for Green Hydrogen

12.12.2022

Subworking Group 3 Meeting on Finance, Insurance Industry & Trading of Green Hydrogen

19.01.2023

Subworking Group 2 Meeting on Transport, Storage & Consumption of Green Hydrogen

15.02.2023

Workshop on CO2-Certificates as Additional Revenue Stream for Green Hydrogen Sales

06.03.2023

Session on the Process to obtain public approvals for the setup of Green H2-plants in India

20.03.2023

Subworking Group 1 Meeting on Plant Engineering & Production of Green Hydrogen

22.03.2023

Webinar on Hydrogen Clusters around Ports

22.03.2023

Session on German Funding Instruments

   

 

Upcoming

04.04.-05.04.2023 Green Steel World

11.04.2023

Webinar on EU Sustainability Criteria for Green Hydrogen

18.04.2023 Webinar on Decarbonising Shipping in India with Global Maritime Forum 

16.04.-20.04.2023

Delegation to Germany on Green Hydrogen Technologies and Manufacturing with participation in Hannover Trade Fair

07.05.-12.05.2023

Mixed Government and Business Delegation to Brussels and Rotterdam with participation at World Hydrogen Summit

12.05.2023 Webinar on Green Hydrogen Cluster in Germany and India (tbc)

11.06.-17.06.2023

Delegation on Green Hydrogen Production with Photovoltaics with participation in Intersolar Europe Conference in Munich, Germany

 

Deliverables under the Subworking Groups 

Subworking Group 1 on Plant Engineering & Production of Green Hydrogen

Completed:

Ongoing:

 

Subworking Group 2 on Transport, Storage and Consumption

Completed:

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:

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:

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.
IN