The Netherlands and India combine expertise on green hydrogen
The energy transition is not just a matter of sustainability; it is also an essential driver of economic growth, international competitiveness, and strategic autonomy. Both the Netherlands and India face the challenge of future-proofing their energy systems in a world where next to sustainability, energy security, flexibility and affordability are becoming increasingly important.
Background and rationale
The rationale for this collaboration is that green hydrogen can play a strategic role in strengthening the economic position of both countries, creating new market opportunities, and increasing the resilience of industry and society against global shocks.
TNO and RVO explored in their latest report, “Strategic Directions for Netherlands–India Joint Initiatives on Green Hydrogen Technologies,” how the Netherlands and India can strengthen each other in the field of green hydrogen.
The report focuses on policy, technology, market development, joint innovation, and overcoming barriers such as certification, infrastructure, and costs. The report was launched at the India Energy Week 2026, in Goa, by Dr Michiel Heijdra, Director General for Climate & Energy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
Collaboration
The Netherlands brings in-depth expertise in innovation, system integration, and hydrogen technologies, supported by a strong national strategy and infrastructure. Besides, the Netherlands is currently handling 13 percent of the total EU energy use through the Port of Rotterdam.
India, in turn, offers enormous scale, rapidly growing renewable energy capacity, and a strong policy commitment through the National Green Hydrogen Mission. By combining these complementary strengths, a solid foundation for long-term cooperation can be established.
The shared goal is to translate the potential of green hydrogen into concrete actions and projects, enabling both countries not only to accelerate their own energy transition but also to strengthen their economic resilience and international position.
Opportunities and recommendations
The Netherlands–India strategic partnership presents an opportunity to accelerate the global energy transition by combining Dutch technological leadership, the European market’s demand potential and willingness to pay and India’s scale and ambition.
The report identified actionable opportunities and recommendations across five key stakeholder domains: policy and mission, financial & investment, infrastructure & supply chain, R&D & innovation, and electrolyser manufacturing. The opportunities identified in the study are:
aligning policy and regulation to meet government ambitions;
valorising India’s green hydrogen targets into bankable projects that reach final investment decision;
developing a dedicated India–Netherlands green hydrogen corridor to unlock European demand;
accelerating innovation and technology scale-up through joint R&D and centres of excellence;
building resilient supply chains for large-scale electrolyser manufacturing.
Jan Reint Smit, Innovation Counsellor, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, said:
The Netherlands and India stand at a pivotal moment in the global energy transition.
” Both countries have set ambitious climate and development goals, recognising that clean hydrogen will play a central role in decarbonising industry, strengthening energy security, and fostering sustainable economic growth. In this context, collaboration is not only desirable, it is essential.’
Challenges
The global hydrogen development also faces challenges, such as differences in certification and regulation, scaling up production and infrastructure, reducing costs and local sourcing, and responsible management of water use and raw materials. By addressing these challenges together, the Netherlands and India can further strengthen their position as leaders in the energy transition.
Future outlook
To make this collaboration tangible, it is important to focus on concrete structural long-term cooperation. Future efforts should focus on joint pilots, harmonisation of standards, and development of bankable projects. Knowledge exchange and joint innovation are essential to realise these ambitions and to create international impact.
Rajesh Mehta, Senior Consultant at TNO, said:
India and the Netherlands can accelerate the global energy transition by combining their complementary strengths and cross-border collaboration in innovation, system integration and scale.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
The Netherlands and India combine expertise on green hydrogen, source