Mr. Bernd Scholtz, Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of the Netherlands in India, spoke at CII International Conclave on Green Hydrogen on 19th June and underscored the strength and promise of Indo-Dutch collaboration in the global clean energy transition. He painted a vivid picture of a joint green future, where innovation, infrastructure, and international cooperation converge to unlock the full potential of green hydrogen.
Shared Climate Commitments and the Role of Green Hydrogen
He reiterated the urgency of the climate crisis and positioned green hydrogen as an indispensable part of the solution. “We’re all gathered here with a shared mission: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and halt the rising temperature of our planet. This is the foundation of our collective work on green hydrogen—a vital component in the global drive for decarbonisation,” he noted.
While the European Union has committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050, India has set a target for 2070. Mr. Scholtz acknowledged these parallel aspirations and emphasised the complementary roles both countries play: “Green hydrogen is not only a shared area of interest—it is an area where we complement and need each other.”
Innovation and the ‘Colourful Path’ to Green Hydrogen
One of the key challenges in building a robust hydrogen economy is reducing production costs. Mr. Scholtz argued that scale alone is not enough—innovation is essential. “Innovation, in particular, is crucial to solving these issues—whether it’s through improving production efficiencies or developing new pathways to reduce costs,” he asserted.
Drawing on insights from the hydrogen sector, he described the transition as a “colourful” journey—referring to the range of hydrogen production methods that are gradually moving toward fully green solutions.
Hydrogen Valleys: Models of Innovation and Collaboration
Highlighting bilateral progress, Mr. Scholtz spoke of the HEAVENN project in the Northern Netherlands—the first operational hydrogen valley in Europe. “This pioneering initiative was named ‘Hydrogen Valley of the Year’ in 2022 for its contribution to clean energy innovation,” he said proudly.
India, too, has embraced this model with the launch of four hydrogen valley innovation clusters. In November last year, Dutch counterparts hosted a delegation from India, including government officials and academics, to exchange ideas and best practices in the Netherlands.
Infrastructure and Trade: Building the Green Hydrogen Chain
As India develops green hydrogen hubs in Kandla, Tuticorin, and Paradeep, Mr. Scholtz revealed that Dutch ports, including Rotterdam, are also preparing to receive hydrogen imports. This includes investments in cracking facilities and terminal upgrades.
“The Port of Rotterdam—the largest in Europe—is often jokingly referred to as Germany’s biggest port too, because of its deep integration with the German economy,” he added with a touch of humor.
He stressed that infrastructure is key, and that the Netherlands is actively building a pan-European hydrogen backbone, aiming to become the entry point for green hydrogen into Europe.
India on the Global Stage
The Netherlands sees India as a vital player in the global hydrogen value chain. Reflecting on India’s strong presence at the World Hydrogen Summit, Mr. Scholtz remarked: “India’s pavilion was among the largest—making a strong statement on the global stage.”
Quoting the Dutch Vice Minister, Mr. Heijdra, he added, “A world summit without India cannot be a world summit.”
Moving Forward Together
He acknowledged the growing interest from Dutch companies in India and vice versa. The Netherlands’ participation in the H2Global tender marks another step in market development, helping set pricing benchmarks for green ammonia and green hydrogen, thereby resolving what he called the “chicken-and-egg” dilemma.
Despite these advancements, Mr. Scholtz cautioned that the journey is far from over. “There is still a long road ahead. We must collaborate—not only between our two countries—but also across regions including Latin America, Australia, South Africa, and Northern Africa to establish a truly global green hydrogen supply and production chain,” he said.
He concluded with a call for continued cooperation: “Let us continue this open dialogue, align our efforts, and build a seamless, integrated hydrogen ecosystem that benefits us all.”
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