MNRE Showcases India’s Expanding Green Hydrogen Startup Ecosystem

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosted a one-day Hydrogen Startup Exhibition, bringing together 18 emerging startups working across the green hydrogen value chain to highlight innovation and accelerate ecosystem growth.

The exhibition featured startups spanning multiple segments, including electrolyser technologies, hydrogen production, fuel cells, biomass-to-hydrogen solutions, and digital innovations. Participants demonstrated their technologies while engaging with stakeholders from government, industry, and research institutions.

According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), India had 249 hydrogen-focused startups as of September 2025, reflecting rapid growth in the sector.

The participating startups included five focused on electrolyser systems and components, two on hydrogen production, one on fuel cells, and others working on hydrogen applications, safety systems, drone technologies, hydrogen-based cooking solutions, artificial intelligence, and bio-hydrogen.

The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, along with MNRE Secretary Santosh Sarangi, Scientific Secretary Parvinder Maini, and National Green Hydrogen Mission Director Abhay Bakre.

MNRE had earlier launched a scheme supporting new and novel hydrogen applications, allocating INR 100 crore for startup-led pilot projects, with funding support of up to INR 5 crore per startup. Following a call for proposals issued by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in September 2025, 111 applications were received, of which 58 startups were shortlisted for evaluation. The final results are expected to be announced soon.

The exhibition builds on a similar startup showcase held during the R&D Conference last year in New Delhi, reinforcing the government’s push to position India as a global hub for green hydrogen innovation.