Skip to content

Denmark and India Join Forces for Innovative Hydrogen Technologies

In August 2024, The Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science announced the call for bilateral research and innovation cooperation in the area of “Cutting-Edge Hydrogen Technologies”. The call was made in collaboration with Innovation Fund Denmark  and the Indian Government’s Department of Science and Technology.

sustainable energy A Bilateral Call to Drive Global Decarbonisation

The bilateral call is a significant contribution to the Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership and marks a crucial step forward in the global effort to transition towards sustainable energy, harnessing the complementary expertise of both nations in hydrogen research and development to drive innovation and accelerate decarbonisation.

This collaboration also supports India's National Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make the country a global hub for green hydrogen production and export, aligning with Denmark's own carbon-neutral ambitions by 2050.

Photo of King Frederik X in India
HM King Frederik X (at the time Crown Prince ) accompanied by the Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities HE Lars Aagard; the Ambassador of Denmark to India, HE Freddy Svane; former Indian Ambassador to Denmark, HE Pooja Kapur at the announcement of an Indo-Danish project awarded from the 2022 bilateral call.  The project called Efficient Cost saving Grid friendlyPtX Converter (ECoGrif) is led by University of Southern Denmark,Danfoss A/S, Indian Institute of Technology and Danfoss India Pvt. Ltd.)

Funding and Key Milestones

The total funding for this bilateral call is significant: DKK 20 million from Denmark and an equal amount from India. Selected projects will receive support for research and development, with the goal of producing scalable and commercially viable hydrogen solutions. The evaluation and selection process will take place between November and December 2024, with projects commencing by mid-2025.

This bilateral partnership represents a significant investment in the future of clean energy, driving hydrogen innovations that will have global implications. By pooling resources and expertise, Denmark and India are not only addressing the urgent need for decarbonisation but also ensuring that hydrogen becomes a viable and sustainable energy solution for the world.

Leading by Impactful Partnerships

In 2018, Denmark and India signed a cooperation agreement about research, technology and innovation. Since then, four major bilateral calls with joint funding mechanisms have been launched. The first call, in 2018, focused on water and renewable energy. The second call, in 2020, targeted bio-resources and cyber-physical systems. The third call, in 2022, dedicated DKK 40 million to green fuels, backing four projects out of 23 applicants involving 92 partners across industry and research. The winning consortia were announced during the Danish Royal Visit to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.

The 2024 call continues the momentum in green fuels, supporting the Green Fuels Alliance (GFAI), which is a strategic initiative aimed at advancing the green fuels sector, particularly Green Hydrogen.

GFAI’s primary objective is to promote sustainable energy growth in India by establishing an ecosystem that encourages collaboration among businesses, government entities, research institutions, and financial stakeholders from both the Indian and Danish sectors. Nine leading Danish organisations have joined the GFAI initiative as founding members, including Maersk, Topsoe, Umwelt Energy, Mash Makes, European Sustainable Solutions, Novonesis, Danfoss, Brdr. Christensen, and Hydrogen Denmark. Additionally, the GFAI advisory board features members such as the India Hydrogen Alliance, the Energy Consortium at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, the Danish Energy Agency, and State of Green.

A Global Effort for a Sustainable Future

The focus on green fuels come at a pivotal time as India accelerates efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. At the same time, Denmark, which topped the Global Climate Performance Ranking in 2024, is on track to reach net zero by 2045. This collaboration aligns with both nations' ambitious climate goals, fostering innovation in green technologies.

By focusing on strategic areas such as renewable hydrogen production and industrial applications, the 2024 Indo-Danish bilateral call exemplifies the role of cross-border collaboration in shaping a sustainable energy future. As we work together, Denmark and India are proving that hydrogen has the potential to transform the world’s energy landscape for generations to come.

get in touch

Loading...