India has moved decisively to build commercial-scale “Hydrogen Valleys” — regional innovation clusters that stitch together green-hydrogen production, storage, transport and end-use to create functioning local value chains. The plan, announced at the 3rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2025) in New Delhi, calls for four Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVICs) to be developed as living laboratories where industry, research institutes and state governments pilot technologies, standards, business models and skills development needed for a hydrogen economy.
Background and launch
HVICs grew out of earlier Department of Science & Technology and MNRE efforts to accelerate localisation, testing and deployment of green-hydrogen technology. The scheme’s revised guidelines were published in June 2025 and the fresh announcement at ICGH-2025 in November 2025 confirmed government backing, funding flows and a clearer institutional framework under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). A cumulative investment of roughly ₹485 crore has been signalled for the four clusters, with central mission funds supplemented by industry and consortium contributions.
Where they will be set up?
The four HVICs will be established across diverse Indian geographies to expose the programme to different renewable-resource and industrial profiles — Pune (Maharashtra), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Bhubaneswar (Odisha) and one cluster in Kerala (planned around Kochi). These sites reflect a mix of strong industrial demand pockets, renewable energy potential and academic/innovation ecosystems. Earlier pilot activity and MNRE/DST support in states such as Gujarat and Tamil Nadu also helped shape the concept.
Who benefits and why it matters
The clusters are designed to benefit multiple stakeholders. Industry (steel, fertilisers, chemicals, ports, transport) gains nearer-term off-take and risk-reduction mechanisms; OEMs and fleet operators get demonstration grounds for hydrogen mobility; startups, labs and universities obtain testbeds for product-validation and skills training; and states attract investment and jobs. Importantly, HVICs aim to lower the cost and complexity of scaling up green hydrogen by co-locating renewable power, electrolysers, storage, distribution and end-use — which accelerates commercialisation and helps India meet its NGHM targets.
Taken together, Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters are India’s practical attempt to move hydrogen from isolated projects to integrated ecosystems — a necessary step if the country is to industrialise green hydrogen at scale, create jobs, and decarbonise heavy industry and transport over the coming decade.
References
Compiled using AI
