Site Visits on Green Hydrogen at the sidelines of European Hydrogen Week 2025

From 1-3 October, representatives of the Government of India and industry leaders visited major hydrogen facilities in Belgium. On 1 October, Mr. Sarangi visited the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, accompanied by Mr. Abhay Bakre. After a visit to CMB.TECH’s hydrogen refueling station, the Secretary met with representatives from the Port to discuss potential areas of collaboration and opportunities for import of green hydrogen at its derivates to Europe.

On Thursday 2 October, a delegation of Indian companies and project developers led by GH2 India and IGEF-SO took part in a port tour to explore hydrogen projects at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, showing how one of Europe’s major import hubs is transforming around hydrogen and its carriers. The port handles over 278 million tonnes of cargo annually and operates a 1,700 km pipeline network. The delegation received a briefing on the port’s ammonia and methanol infrastructure and future developments.

A highlight of the visit was the stop at the BASF site in Antwerp, where the group visited Air Liquide’s world-first industrial-scale ammonia cracker, demonstrating how imported ammonia can be efficiently converted back into hydrogen for industrial use. The visit showcased how ports can drive the hydrogen transition and offered lessons for building locally resilient green hydrogen ecosystems in India.

On Friday 3 October, the Indian delegation, including companies and project developers, toured Agfa’s newly opened ZIRFON facility in Belgium. The site hosts one of the world’s most advanced membrane production lines, capable of supporting 20 GW of alkaline electrolysis capacity per year.

The delegation got an insight into membrane performance, industrial-scale production challenges, and integration with electrolyser manufacturing. Agfa’s ZIRFON membranes, already used by manufacturers such as thyssenkrupp nucera and John Cockerill, enable high hydrogen yield and stable operation under variable renewable conditions.

The visit showed the strategic role of membranes in scaling global green hydrogen production and demonstrated how policy, funding, and technology alignment can accelerate deployment, offering valuable lessons for India’s own green hydrogen ecosystem.

India’s presence at the European Hydrogen Week highlights its role as a key partner in the global energy transition. Closer cooperation with European partners, including Germany, helps build reliable hydrogen supply chains and creates mutual opportunities for advancing a sustainable and secure hydrogen economy.