. How will the Kakinada electrolyzer plant support India’s green hydrogen targets under the National Green Hydrogen Mission?
India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030 and develop 15 GW of electrolyzer manufacturing capacity.[1] Aligned to these national goals, John Cockerill is developing one of the world’s largest electrolyzer manufacturing facilities in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. This plant, being established through the joint venture between John Cockerill and AM Green, will have an annual production capacity of 2 GW and is expected to begin operations with 1 GW capacity by 2026. The facility will manufacture high-performance alkaline electrolyzers—a key component for converting renewable electricity into green hydrogen at scale.
By localizing electrolyzer production, the Kakinada plant will play a central role in strengthening India’s green hydrogen ecosystem and supporting India’s ambition of emerging as a global leader in green hydrogen manufacturing and exports. It will reduce reliance on imports, enhance cost-efficiency, and build a resilient supply chain that supports the rapid deployment of green hydrogen projects across the country. It will also create skilled employment opportunities and foster technological collaboration.
Through this initiative, John Cockerill is not only supporting India’s energy transition goals but also reaffirming its commitment to delivering sustainable, scalable, and future-ready solutions that accelerate industrial decarbonization.
How does John Cockerill’s investment strategy align with India’s “Make in India” push for green hydrogen manufacturing?
As one of the global leaders in green hydrogen, John Cockerill brings decades of engineering expertise and the world’s largest portfolio of industrial-scale alkaline electrolyzers. We have deployed solutions across Europe, China, the Middle East, and Africa, and are now firmly focused on India’s growth story.
We believe that India’s push for self-reliance in clean energy technologies presents a unique opportunity to localize production, strengthen supply chains, and foster industrial innovation. By establishing one of India’s first large-scale electrolyzer manufacturing facilities in Kakinada through our joint venture with AM Green, which is a part of the Greenko Group, we are contributing directly to this vision, not just by bringing capital, but also world-class technology and engineering expertise to the Indian market.
The aim is to enable both domestic decarbonisation and hydrogen exports to key markets like Europe and Japan. This will strengthen India’s position as a global hub for green energy. Additionally, we are actively exploring partnerships with premier institutions, such as IIT Bombay, to develop advanced R&D capabilities and ensure that innovation in this domain is homegrown and future-ready.
What role can solar-powered electrolysis play in making green hydrogen projects more viable in India?
Solar-powered electrolysis holds significant promise for enhancing the viability of green hydrogen projects in India, thanks to the country’s abundant solar resources and supportive policy environment. With high solar irradiance and long sunshine hours, particularly in regions such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, solar energy emerges as a highly cost-effective and reliable source for powering electrolysis. Using solar power to split water into hydrogen and oxygen can significantly lower the overall cost of green hydrogen production, thereby improving the economic viability of such projects.[2]
Our recent MoU with L&T Energy GreenTech focuses on technologies such as Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES), which can complement solar-powered electrolysis and address intermittency challenges. These integrated solutions can enable more consistent and efficient hydrogen production, even in off-grid or variable conditions.
John Cockerill has strong leadership in the areas of electrolysis technologies and concentrated solar thermal receivers. We are excited to leverage our global engineering expertise to accelerate India’s energy transition. The country’s openness to innovation and technology collaboration, combined with its ambitious net-zero goals, offers a solid foundation for co-developing world-class, scalable green hydrogen solutions that are tailored to its unique needs.
Which key technologies is John Cockerill focusing on to boost sustainability, cost efficiency, and rapid deployment?
Our focus is on developing and deploying cutting-edge electrolyzer technologies, specifically large-scale alkaline electrolyzers, tailored for industrial-scale hydrogen production. John Cockerill has already manufactured electrolyzers and storage solutions for nearly 1,000 customers across various industries. We offer the most powerful electrolyzers on the market, capable of producing up to 1000Nm³ per hour, which is equivalent to 5 MW. These electrolyzers have high efficiency and reliability and enable rapid deployment at lower costs. We are also investing in modular manufacturing techniques that support scalability and localization for faster set-up and operational readiness. By integrating automation, digitalization, and advanced control systems, we aim to enhance process optimization, improve energy efficiency, and reduce the total cost of ownership—all of which advance our sustainability goals.
How is John Cockerill Greenko Hydrogen Solutions balancing global technology leadership with India’s price-sensitive market?
Achieving a balance between advanced technology and price sensitivity in a market like India is at the core of our joint venture with AM Green. We are localizing manufacturing here to bring down costs while maintaining the quality and reliability of our electrolyzer systems. Localization reduces import dependency and logistics costs and enables us to respond faster to market needs. Meanwhile, customizing our global solutions to suit Indian operating conditions and economic realities ensures that we remain competitive while delivering world-class performance. We are extensively working with existing vendors from the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India to build an efficient and competitive supply chain.
How do you see India’s green hydrogen sector evolving in the next five years, and what role will John Cockerill play?
The outlook for India’s green hydrogen sector is positive, with policy support, industrial demand, and technological advancements beginning to align with each other. Over the next five years, we should expect to see a strong policy-led push for mandatory use of green hydrogen, followed by the establishment of large-scale green hydrogen hubs, integration of hydrogen with renewable energy sources, and growing demand from sectors such as refining, fertilizers, steel, and mobility.
John Cockerill’s role is to be an enabler of this transition. We have partnered with AM Green to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for alkaline electrolyzers in India. This facility will not only meet India’s domestic requirements but will also serve as a global export base, establishing India as a key player in the green hydrogen supply chain.
We are leveraging our decades-long global engineering expertise, technology leadership, and operational experience to support India’s green hydrogen transition. By combining our strengths with AM Green’s renewable energy capabilities and deep understanding of local market dynamics, we are uniquely positioned to deliver end-to-end, cost-effective, and scalable green hydrogen solutions for India.
Over the next five years, we aim to deepen our presence in critical sectors—including steel, green hydrogen, renewable energy, and defense manufacturing—through strategic collaborations and localization. We are committed to helping India build its green hydrogen sector and become a global hub for green hydrogen innovation, production, and exports.
