Advanced Material In Hydrogen Storage and Transport - Unlocking A $200b+ Global Opportunity & India's Strategic Role

Hydrogen production costs and efficiencies vary widely by method and geography. In India, reliance on imported natural gas raises the cost of grey and blue hydrogen compared to global averages. While green hydrogen remains costlier today, aggressive renewables expansion and policy support are expected to bring costs down to ~$2/kg by 2030. Biomass gasification, leveraging India’s agricultural residue, offers a promising decentralized route. This comparative analysis highlights how India’s hydrogen strategy must balance technology maturity, feedstock availability, and infrastructure readiness to realize its green hydrogen ambitions.

Further, aligning cost competitiveness with global benchmarks is essential for India to emerge as a key hydrogen exporter. Electrolyzer localization, viability gap funding, and scale-driven cost reductions will be crucial. Strategic production clusters near RE zones, ports, and industrial hubs can enhance economics. Policy clarity and cross-sectoral coordination will determine India’s pace in capturing its share of the $100B+ global green hydrogen trade opportunity.  Moreover, regional production incentives, carbon pricing mechanisms, and renewable energy banking policies will shape investor confidence. India's ability to integrate hydrogen into refining, fertilizer, steel, and mobility sectors will directly influence demand scaling. The convergence of public-private capital, innovation ecosystems, and strategic international partnerships will define India’s leadership in the hydrogen economy.

• First hand sector knowledge and inputs
• Primary research inputs from F2F interviews with domain experts
• Experts insights and market reviews taken into consideration Validated data and analysis
• Opportunity mapping and market sizing
• Germinates from minds that think fresh to evolve path finding guide for all stake holders through quality information and analysis
• Free query handling and analyst support for three months from the date of report procurement

For Developers

• First-mover advantage in a rapidly evolving market backed by the National Green Hydrogen Mission and ‘Make in India’ manufacturing schemes.
• Greenfield opportunities to develop integrated hydrogen ecosystems (e.g., mobility corridors, industrial clusters, export terminals) leveraging advanced storage and transport materials.
• Technology localization potential by partnering with global material innovators to co-develop cost-effective, application-specific solutions for Indian conditions.

For OEMs

• Scale domestic production of Type III/IV tanks, cryogenic containers, MLI systems, and composite pressure vessels.
• Access PLI schemes for advanced materials manufacturing including carbon fiber, resins, and superalloys
• Import substitution potential for high-value components such as valves, liners, insulation, and hydrogen-rated sensors.
• Global export prospects by aligning with ISO/IEC standards and becoming part of clean hydrogen trade supply chains.

For Material Innovators & R&D Institutions

• Strong IP opportunity in developing next-gen composites (carbon fiber, MOFs, hydrides, aerogels, LOHC materials) tailored for Indian climate and use cases.
• Government and corporate R&D funding available through MNRE, DST, and Mission Innovation partnerships

Hydrogen storage remains a critical enabler for realizing the hydrogen economy—impacting transport, distribution, and end-use efficiency. As per Eninrac’s market intelligence, the global hydrogen storage market is poised to cross $30 billion by 2030, with India contributing an estimated $2.4 billion, led by compressed gas and emerging cryogenic solutions.

Compressed hydrogen gas storage (350–700 bar) continues to dominate early deployments, but its low energy density (1.2–1.5 kWh/kg) and energy-intensive compression present safety and cost trade-offs. India’s share in this segment is projected at $1.2 billion, driven by mobility and backup power applications. However, advanced Type IV tank materials and improved valve technologies remain critical to cost optimization. In parallel, liquid hydrogen (LH2) offers higher energy density (2.3–2.8 kWh/kg), yet faces challenges of ~1% daily boil-off losses, impacting viability in long-haul and maritime use cases.
Eninrac analysts note India’s LH2 potential at $0.5 billion, backed by ISRO’s legacy and recent public-private interest. Metal hydrides (e.g., MgH₂) and Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) are gaining traction in R&D and pilot phases. While their energy densities range from 1.5 to 2.2 kWh/kg, their limitations—such as slow kinetics for hydrides and high regeneration temperatures for LOHCs—require further breakthroughs.

• Green Hydrogen & Ammonia Project Developers
• Cryogenic & High-Pressure Storage System Manufacturers
• Pipeline & Hydrogen Logistics Infrastructure Developers
• Chemical Carrier Technology Providers (Ammonia, LOHC, Methanol)
• Composite Material Producers (Carbon Fiber, Resins, Liners)
• Solid-State Storage Material Innovators (Hydrides, MOFs, Graphene)
• Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Firms
• Port Authorities & Export Infrastructure Operators
• Public Utilities & Oil & Gas Majors (IOCL, GAIL, NTPC)
• Climate & Energy Transition Funds / Impact Investors

• L&T
• Walchandnagar Industries Limited
• Godrej & Boyce
• BHEL
• TATA Advanced Materials
• Artson Engineering
• Vijay Tanks
• Reliance Industries
• Adani New Industries Limited
• NTPC,
• IOCL
• ACME
• Greenko
• GHCL
• Praj Industries
• Grasim Industries
• BIS
• MNRE, India
• NITI Aayog
• CSIR
• TERI