India’s green hydrogen ambition is going global; 14 deals in just the first four months of 2026, says Amitabh Kant

India’s 14 deals were binding supply contracts, not just announcements or production targets. Together, they committed companies to deliver 311,520 metric tonnes of clean hydrogen each year. The agreements show that buyers are willing to make firm commitments to India’s emerging low-carbon fuel industry.

The contracted material includes green hydrogen and volumes exported as green ammonia. Green ammonia is made with renewable-powered hydrogen and nitrogen. It can serve as a fertiliser input and as a carrier for hydrogen-based energy. This expands the ways Indian producers can sell clean hydrogen internationally.

The deals were signed during the first four months of 2026. BloombergNEF said India recorded the highest contracted volumes signed during that period and reached third place globally for cumulative contracted volumes. The commitments could support larger production projects, export infrastructure and a broader clean-fuel supply chain.

The 14 binding agreements cover 311,520 metric tonnes of clean hydrogen annually. This is the amount companies committed to supply each year under the contracts signed in the first four months of 2026. The figure shows a significant commercial step for India’s young green hydrogen sector.

Export markets account for 62% of the contracted volume. In other words, nearly two-thirds of the supply is intended for buyers outside India. Some of this clean hydrogen will be exported as green ammonia, which is easier to use in fertiliser production and can carry hydrogen-based energy.

The export share highlights India’s international ambitions. BloombergNEF reported that India had the highest contracted volumes signed during that period and ranked third globally in cumulative contracted volumes. These commitments could help India become a major supplier in the global clean-fuel trade.

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced with renewable electricity, so its production is linked to clean power rather than conventional high-carbon energy. It matters because hydrogen can support lower-carbon industrial activity and can be sold directly or converted into products such as green ammonia.

The central mechanism is electrolysis. An electrolyser uses renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen becomes the product, while renewable power supplies the energy needed for the process. The article connects green ammonia production directly to hydrogen made through renewable-powered electrolysis and nitrogen.

India is building capacity around this process. In March 2026, the government said 3,000 megawatts a year of electrolyser manufacturing capacity had been awarded to 15 companies. It also reported awards for 862,000 metric tonnes a year of green hydrogen production capacity, creating a foundation for domestic use and exports.

Overseas buyers are interested because Indian companies can produce green ammonia at competitive prices. BloombergNEF linked this advantage to relatively low-cost clean electricity, government subsidies and competitive auctions. Those conditions can make Indian supplies more attractive to international customers seeking lower-carbon fuels.

Green ammonia is made using hydrogen produced through renewable-powered electrolysis and nitrogen. It has two important uses. It can provide feedstock for fertilisers, and it can act as a carrier for transporting hydrogen-based energy. This gives buyers a practical way to use or move energy derived from hydrogen.

The commercial opportunity is already visible. Indian companies signed three major binding offtake agreements covering exports of more than 1 million metric tonnes annually. The deals could help India expand production, strengthen export links and establish green ammonia as a major part of its international clean-fuel trade.

If India becomes a major exporter, global clean-fuel trade could gain a large new source of green hydrogen and green ammonia. More supply could help international buyers access low-carbon fuels for industrial uses, fertiliser production and hydrogen-based energy systems. It would also strengthen India’s role beyond domestic decarbonisation.

The mechanism is already forming through binding contracts. India signed 14 deals covering 311,520 metric tonnes of annual supply, with 62% destined for export markets. Green ammonia helps connect hydrogen production with international trade because it can carry hydrogen-based energy and be used as fertiliser feedstock.

India’s export push could support wider production and infrastructure, including renewable electricity, electrolysers and supply networks. The country already has three major binding export offtake agreements covering more than 1 million metric tonnes annually. The article presents these commitments as evidence of India emerging as a key clean-energy trade player.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission is the government’s main framework for building India’s industry. Approved in January 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore, it aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production, use and exports. It addresses both supply and demand.

The mission offers financial incentives for electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production. It also encourages demand in industries such as fertilisers and refineries. In March 2026, 15 companies received awards for 3,000 megawatts a year of electrolyser manufacturing capacity, while 18 companies received awards for 862,000 metric tonnes a year of green hydrogen production capacity.

The government is also aggregating demand for green ammonia. That can help create a domestic market and support production and supply infrastructure. Together, these measures are intended to build an ecosystem linking renewable electricity, electrolysers, hydrogen production, industrial users and exports.

Green hydrogen must be produced at a price buyers can accept. Renewable electricity is essential because electrolysers need substantial power to make hydrogen. If that electricity is relatively cheap, the resulting hydrogen can become more competitive. The article identifies India’s low-cost clean power as a key advantage.

Electrolysers are the equipment that uses renewable electricity to produce hydrogen. Expanding their manufacture can reduce dependence on limited equipment supply and support larger projects. Government subsidies then improve the economics of both electrolyser manufacturing and hydrogen production. Competitive auctions provide another route to lower project costs.

These factors are already attracting overseas buyers. BloombergNEF said India’s competitive green ammonia costs helped bring international interest, alongside subsidies and auctions. The National Green Hydrogen Mission is supporting capacity and demand in sectors such as fertilisers and refineries. Together, these measures can help green hydrogen compete with fossil-fuel-based hydrogen and expand exports.