Photo Credit: www.bhel.com
In a significant boost to India’s green hydrogen ambitions and Indo-German industrial cooperation, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has entered into a strategic collaboration with German electrolysis technology specialist thyssenkrupp nucera to manufacture alkaline electrolyser systems in India for green hydrogen projects. The agreement aims to accelerate domestic manufacturing capabilities while supporting the country’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.
The Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) was signed on 7 July 2026 at BHEL’s Corporate Office in New Delhi between BHEL and thyssenkrupp nucera India Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of Germany-based thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA.
The partnership will focus on the phased localisation and indigenisation of alkaline water electrolyser systems, a key technology used to produce green hydrogen through the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy.
Strengthening India’s Green Hydrogen Ecosystem
According to BHEL, the collaboration will enable phased local manufacturing of alkaline electrolyser systems in India and strengthen the company’s project execution capabilities in the rapidly emerging green hydrogen sector. The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and broader “Make in India” objectives.
Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to establish local manufacturing capabilities for electrolyser modules, jointly participate in tenders for green hydrogen projects, and support implementation of hydrogen projects across India.
The collaboration combines BHEL’s engineering, manufacturing and project execution strengths with thyssenkrupp nucera’s global expertise in industrial-scale electrolysis technology.
German Technology Meets Indian Manufacturing
thyssenkrupp nucera is among the world’s leading providers of electrolysis technologies and has delivered hundreds of electrochemical projects globally. The company has been actively expanding its presence in India’s emerging green hydrogen market, viewing the country as one of its most important growth destinations.
Commenting on the collaboration, Kiran Joseph, Chief Executive Officer, thyssenkrupp nucera India Private Limited, said: “India is one of the most important growth markets for thyssenkrupp nucera.”
He noted that the partnership with BHEL would help strengthen local manufacturing capabilities and support the deployment of green hydrogen projects in the country.
Part of a Broader Indo-German Hydrogen Push
The latest agreement reflects growing cooperation between India and Germany in the green hydrogen sector, which has emerged as a major pillar of bilateral climate and energy collaboration.
Earlier this year, thyssenkrupp nucera partnered with the German development agency GIZ to support the development of green hydrogen and Power-to-X markets in India. The company has also secured engineering assignments for large-scale hydrogen projects in the country, underlining India’s strategic importance in its global growth plans.
The collaboration also comes shortly after BHEL signed a Technology Transfer Agreement with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for indigenous alkaline electrolyser technology, signalling the public sector engineering giant’s increasing focus on hydrogen technologies.
Supporting National Green Hydrogen Mission
India has identified green hydrogen as a critical component of its decarbonisation strategy, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors such as refining, fertilisers, steel and heavy industry. The National Green Hydrogen Mission seeks to establish India as a global hub for the production, utilisation and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
Industry experts view domestic manufacturing of electrolyser systems as a crucial step in reducing costs, strengthening supply chains and building self-reliance in the hydrogen value chain. The BHEL-thyssenkrupp nucera partnership is therefore expected to play an important role in supporting India’s long-term clean energy and industrial transition goals.
As India scales up its green hydrogen ambitions, the agreement highlights how Indo-German technology partnerships are increasingly moving beyond policy dialogue into concrete industrial collaboration, combining German technological expertise with Indian manufacturing capabilities to support the country’s energy transition.
