Headquartered in Gurugram, GreenH Electrolysis is a joint venture between India’s GR Group and Spain’s H2B2 Electrolysis. Established in 2022, it manufactures electrolysers and develops green hydrogen projects. It operates a state-of-the-art PEM Electrolyser manufacturing facility, expandable to 500 MW annual production, and is working on India’s first hydrogen train project. At the sidelines of India Energy Week 2025, Renewable Watch interviewed Dhiman Roy, Chief Executive Officer and Director, GreenH Electrolysis, to know more about the company’s journey, current projects, and the future outlook of hydrogen uptake in India. Edited excerpts…
What are the business verticals of GreenH Electrolysis?
One, we sell electrolysers as an original equipment manufacturer. Two, we function as a developer, investing in infrastructure and selling hydrogen molecules under off-taker agreements. Currently, we are working on proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser technology. Our parent company, H2B2 Electrolysis, headquartered in Spain, has launched two new technologies: Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) and Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM). We are planning to enter the alkaline technology market by June 2026. Subsequently, we will launch SOEC and AEM technologies. We believe that while alkaline and PEM technologies will dominate the market in the near term, from 2030 onwards, SOEC and AEM technologies will emerge as game changers, which will ultimately help to bring down the price of hydrogen.
What are the details of the hydrogen train project?
The hydrogen train project is located in Jind, Haryana, and is part of Indian Railways’ “Hydrogen for Heritage” scheme. This pilot project is one of the 50 projects identified by Indian Railways for converting all diesel lines for pilgrimage and tourist locations to hydrogen trains. The train will run between Jind and Sonipat, with two return trips per day, covering a distance of 360 km per day. GreenH will produce 420 kg of hydrogen daily and dispense it to the train, which will be equipped with two fuel cell based engines, each with 1.2 MW capacity. It will have the capacity to carry 2,000-3,000 passengers. The project includes a 1 MW PEM electrolyser, having the capacity to produce 430 kg of hydrogen per day. For this project, GreenH is responsible for the complete EPC of the stationary hydrogen infrastructure.
What advantages does India have in the green hydrogen space?
One, India has abundant renewable energy potential, with the government pushing for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity. The key challenge is bringing down the cost of round-the-clock renewable energy, which currently constitutes about 70 per cent of the levellised cost of hydrogen. Two, India already has a huge consumer base as the third largest consumer of hydrogen globally, which positions it well for domestic market development. The country is well positioned for hydrogen exports, particularly in the form of derivatives such as ammonia, especially with initiatives like H2Global from Europe creating demand. GreenH identifies two main areas for green hydrogen uptake. One is mobility, where most operational hydrogen projects in India are currently focused (buses, ferries and now trains). These projects, while mostly in pilot stages, are not only being launched but are also being executed and operated. The second promising sector is merchant hydrogen distribution, where existing hydrogen traders are beginning to recognise the premium value of green hydrogen, particularly driven by companies with sustainability and ESG commitments. It is expected that many private projects will be launched in the commercial and industrial sector within the next 12 months. Additionally, oil refineries, which currently consume about 4 million metric tonnes (mmt) of hydrogen out of India’s 6 mmt of annual hydrogen production, are starting to issue tenders for green hydrogen pilot projects, which could create significant demand once awarded.
What are the major challenges in scaling up India’s hydrogen economy?
A major challenge is the lack of demand for green hydrogen in India. While the government has set an ambitious target of 5 mmt by 2030, it remains to be seen if this target will be achieved. Currently, it seems hard to achieve this target as it would require around 120 GW of electrolysers while the country’s current electrolyser capacity is meagre. Going forward, implementing policies such as mandatory blending of 5 per cent green hydrogen with existing grey hydrogen or natural gas, similar to what is being done successfully in Europe, will be key for creating initial demand without significantly disrupting the market or increasing costs substantially. Another step is establishing a robust carbon pricing mechanism, which would automatically create cost competitiveness for green hydrogen. While India has taken long-term steps like the production-linked incentive scheme for electrolysers, there is a lack of concrete project implementation. Another significant challenge is the shortage of a skilled workforce to operate hydrogen plants; this bottleneck will become increasingly critical as more projects move into the execution phase.
