Bridging India’s Green Hydrogen Certification to EU RFNBO

The paper compares India’s Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme and EU-RFNBO frameworks, identifying differences in emissions accounting, power sourcing rules, and system boundaries.

India’s Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI), launched in April 2025, offers a national, ISO-based framework for verifying green hydrogen and accessing subsidies under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. However, for India to tap into premium export markets—especially Europe—alignment with the EU’s stricter Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) standards under RED III is essential. A newly released whitepaper compares GHCI and RFNBO frameworks, identifying key differences in emissions accounting, power sourcing rules, and system boundaries.

The whitepaper:

1. Reviews GHCI design and its alignment with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.

2. Summarises RFNBO requirements under RED III and subsequent Commission Q&As.

3. Presents a side-by-side analysis of GHG methodology and power-sourcing rules.

4. Highlights practical implications for project developers (e.g., MRV, subsidy stacking, ledger separation).

5. Provides policy recommendations to bridge gaps and accelerate bankable, dual-compliant projects

Despite shared goals of credible certification, divergences such as full life cycle GHG thresholds, hourly matching of renewable electricity, and feedstock eligibility require developers to carefully manage compliance. The paper outlines how Indian projects can achieve dual compliance without duplication or retrofit risk, unlocking both domestic and EU opportunities.

Policy recommendations include sealing double-counting loopholes, publishing derivative roadmaps, and aligning reporting calendars. These steps are seen as vital to ensuring India’s competitiveness as a global green hydrogen exporter.