The CertifHy Bulletin - Summer 2025 Edition
India Launches Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme to Accelerate Market Growth
India officially launched its Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI) in April 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s energy transition. This comprehensive framework sets rigorous standards for green hydrogen, a landmark initiative that aims to position India as a global leader in clean hydrogen production while supporting its ambitious decarbonization objectives.
The Indian government has taken a decisive step forward in its clean energy journey with the launch of its Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI) in April 2025. Announced by the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Pralhad Joshi, the scheme is designed to certify hydrogen produced from renewable sources, providing clarity and market confidence as India pursues its National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Under the GHCI, hydrogen will be officially labelled as “green” if it is produced using renewable energy and meets a certain emissions threshold – less than 2 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kg of hydrogen produced, averaged over 12 months. This benchmark aligns with international best practices and provides clarity for domestic and international investors seeking to participate in India’s emerging hydrogen economy.
The certification framework recognizes two primary production pathways:
Electrolysis using renewable electricity
Biomass conversion processes
The scheme establishes a robust framework for tracing, monitoring, and certifying the carbon footprint of hydrogen, which will be managed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) with support from industry stakeholders and technical bodies. The BEE will soon accredit third-party verification agencies (ACVs), responsible for conducting audits and issuing certificates to compliant producers.
The system accommodates both domestic consumption and export markets, though achieving the right conditions for international cooperation is paramount. To that end, CertifHy is actively engaging with stakeholders to clarify and explore the differences between the GHCI and the EU’s framework for hydrogen certification. Demonstrating this collaboration, CertifHy Managing Director Matthieu Boisson contributed to a webinar hosted by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce on June 26th, titled “Bridging India’s Certification Framework to EU RFNBO Standards.”
CertifHy is committed to fostering robust collaboration between India and the EU, focusing on transparency and mutual understanding between certification frameworks to support coherent and interoperable market development. This harmonization will help streamline cross-border trade and prevent market fragmentation, while further supporting the Indian National Green Hydrogen Mission’s objective of building a self-reliant green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030. With the Indian government already introducing incentives and pilot projects across the value chain, the GHCI is expected to accelerate the development and scaling-up of green hydrogen production, manufacturing, and supporting infrastructure.
In all, the GHCI represents a significant milestone in Indian energy policy, providing the regulatory certainty needed to accelerate hydrogen project deployment and attract international investment. By establishing clear standards and verification procedures, the scheme positions India as a credible participant in the global hydrogen economy while supporting domestic decarbonization objectives across multiple industrial sectors.
CertifHy will continue to track the implementation of India’s GHCI and its implications for global hydrogen markets, providing updates and insights as the scheme is rolled out.
🎥 Want to hear more from CertifHy’s Matthieu Boisson and other experts? Watch the full webinar on Aligning India–EU Green Hydrogen Certification
