India's Industrial Clusters: The Hidden Catalysts for a Hydrogen Revolution
New Delhi, Wednesday, 23 July 2025.
India is innovatively using industrial clusters to boost green hydrogen production, addressing energy reliability and water scarcity issues, aiming for global leadership in hydrogen technology by 2030.
The Rise of Green Hydrogen in Indian Industrial Clusters
India is making substantial strides in clean energy through its strategic development of industrial clusters aimed at hydrogen production. Industrial clusters, such as the Gopalpur Industrial Park in Odisha, serve as focal points for this initiative. Gopalpur spans 2,970 acres and features advanced infrastructure like high-voltage substations and water treatment facilities. This setup supports a seamless integration of various industries, including food processing, solar cells, and steel production, further advancing green hydrogen development [1].
Challenges and Innovations
While the goal of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030 is ambitious, India faces challenges like energy reliability and water scarcity. Nevertheless, the potential is vast, with government incentives exceeding $2 billion sparking investment across the sector. This integrated approach not only aims to scale hydrogen production but also to address these critical challenges effectively, fostering resource sustainability [1].
Global Aspirations and Partnerships
India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission is gaining momentum as public and private investments pour in. With commitments from energy and hydrogen technology companies, the plan is to position India as a global leader in the hydrogen economy. This initiative is aligned with larger international efforts, similar to Saudi Arabia’s and Oman’s energy strategies, which equally focus on integrating green hydrogen into their energy infrastructure [1][2].
Harnessing Local and Global Synergies
The transition towards green hydrogen isn’t limited to India. Countries like Saudi Arabia have also begun integrating hydrogen production within their industrial frameworks, forging agreements with companies like TotalEnergies to establish international corridors for hydrogen supply. In this context, India’s clusters offer a replicable model of combining policy support with infrastructure readiness, skirting significant challenges and aiding the global transition to more sustainable energy sources [3].