State-owned power producer NTPC is developing a green hydrogen hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and is in talks with potential offtakers in South Korea, Germany and Japan, its Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh said at the 20th India Energy Summit organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

“We will be able to produce green ammonia or green methanol,” Mr. Singh said, adding that NTPC plans to source carbon dioxide (CO₂) from its nearby Simhadri power station through a 20-km pipeline currently under construction.

Mr. Singh said the lower carbon compounds could eventually evolve into a commercially viable business, potentially expanding NTPC’s renewable energy portfolio.

However, he stressed that scaling up demand would be critical to the sector’s success. “The requirement is that green hydrogen must move from pilot to dependable demand,” he said.

India is emerging as a strategic partner for German and European mechanical and plant engineering industry, driven by rising demand, investment opportunities and efforts to diversify supply chains away from China, according to the German Engineering Federation (VDMA).

German machinery exports to India rose 11% to €2.2 billion in the first half of 2026. A VDMA business survey found that 65% of engineering firms operating in India expect order intake to increase, while 56% anticipate an improvement in their business situation.

Around 600 VDMA member companies are currently active in India, manufacturing or developing products locally and providing customer services. The country is gaining importance not just as a sales market but also as a destination for investment, innovation and production.

Geopolitical tensions and growing economic uncertainties have prompted companies to reassess their supply chains, with India emerging as an increasingly important location for strengthening the resilience of global value chains, the VDMA said.

Addressing the VDMA Mechanical Engineering Summit in Pune, VDMA president Bertram Kawlath said “India and Europe could form one of the defining industrial partnerships of the coming decade”.

The proposed free trade agreement between India and the European Union offers prospects for significant tariff reductions in the mechanical and plant engineering sector, potentially strengthening trade and investment ties.

“We need more trade, more investment, more technological cooperation and stronger industrial links,” Mr. Kawlath said.

The VDMA also called for greater reciprocal access to public procurement markets in India and Europe, arguing that wider market access could deepen industrial cooperation between the two economies.

AM Green Ammonia (India) has secured a long-term purchase agreement to supply renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) ammonia to Germany after emerging as the sole winner of the Asian lot in the H2Global auction conducted by HINT.CO GmbH (Hintco).

Under the agreement, Hintco will purchase renewable ammonia from AM Green for a minimum value of €585 million over a 10-year period. The company may also acquire additional volumes quoted by AM Green, using proceeds generated from the resale of green ammonia in the European market.

The ammonia will be produced at AM Green’s Kakinada project in Andhra Pradesh, where the company is converting an existing natural gas-based ammonia and urea complex into a renewable ammonia production facility using alkaline electrolysis technology.

The project will be powered by AM Green’s round-the-clock renewable energy architecture, supported by pumped-hydro storage, to meet European Union requirements for renewable hydrogen-based fuels.

The first shipments to Germany are expected in 2029, with renewable ammonia exported from Kakinada Seaports, located adjacent to the production facility.

Promoted by the founders of Greenko Group, AM Green said the project will enable the supply of renewable ammonia to European and Asian markets while supporting industrial decarbonisation goals.

“From Kakinada, we will deliver renewable ammonia to European and Asian customers, turning ambitious decarbonisation targets into real industrial emissions reductions. This is an important milestone for AM Green,” said Mahesh Kolli, Group President and Joint Managing Director of AM Green.

Renewable ammonia enables the transportation of clean energy across oceans and can help decarbonise industries that are difficult to electrify, with minimal or zero carbon emissions.

H2Global is bringing together governments and industry to build resilient global supply chains for clean energy and commodities, said Markus Exenberger, Executive Director of the H2Global Foundation and Co-Founder of H2Global.

Many German engineering companies are considering shifting a part of their production to other bases, including their research and development facilities.

Ing.Timo Wurz, Managing Director (Metallurgy and Thermprocessing) of VDMA, told The Hindu recently that not all companies can look at investments in other countries. Thus, while some are able to cope with the current challenges, there are some struggling to survive too. However, “There will be a growing part of value creation done by German companies in other parts of the world. India is a very important market. China is also important. So it makes sense to be there and make products,” he said.

Companies need more strategic capabilities to see what will work for them. More companies are thinking of doing research and development too in key markets to see what extent it is possible, he said.

Industries in the European Union and Germany are facing challenges as the Russia-Ukraine war is driving energy costs up, especially in Germany, and there are tariff related problems too from the US. Further, competition from China is on the rise.

Till Schreiter, Managing Director, ABP Induction Systems GmbH, said governments and industries are looking at securing the energy needs. On the raw material front, alternative sources should be developed to ensure there is no disruption. “To secure supply, we need fair trade, need to a create a win – win situation,” he said.

“As producers, we believe research and development should be where you produce and not where you serve. So, we do research in countries such as Indian and China,” he said.

Mr. Wurz added that European and German machinery manufacturers are export-based businesses. This model is under pressure now as markets are not so open.

Regulations are needed to restrict unlimited inflow of machinery, products, and technology that are subsidised by governments in countries such as China. The VDMA is calling for simplification of anti-dumping process. “We are just against unfair practices among trading partners. We need a level playing field and fair play,” he said.

Indian manufacturers have huge potential to tap into the global market as more businesses are looking at suppliers and opportunities in India, said Parag Sharma, vice-president of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, India and Asia Pacific Region, Stellantis.

Speaking in Coimbatore city on Thursday (September 10) at the inaugural of a three-day Inter Foundry and Inter DieCast exhibition organised by the Foundries Development Foundation and VA Exhibitions at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, he said the Indian foundry sector has grown multi-fold in the past two decades.

The expectation of global players from India is also high. Many multinational companies are looking for suppliers and opportunities in India. If foundries invest in modern technologies, the sector will start attracting more personnel, he said. 

According to Sreenivas Naidu, executive director of ZF Wind Power Coimbatore, India has the resilience to continue supplies despite global challenges. The West Asia war has not stopped supplies from India, he pointed out and urged the Indian manufacturing sector to focus on sustaining quality and delivery schedules.

Jayakumar Ramdass, chairman of the third edition of the exhibition, said the Foundries Development Foundation and Germany-based VDMA have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the Inter Foundry and Inter DieCast exhibition as well as for space for Indian foundries at the trade fair GIFA, which will be held in Germany.

Ashwani Pande, chief executive officer of VA Exhibitions, said the event this year has 322 exhibitors occupying 18,000 sq.mt of space. This includes 39 exhibitors from other countries as well as China, Italy and Germany pavilions.

While the Pro League which preceded the World Cup was a marker on where the sides stood in terms of team building and form, Germany’s numbers made for grim reading. It was a team in transition with a heavy influx of youth. But discount the Germans at your peril.

After Andre Henning took charge, it won the World Cup, reached an Olympic final and made two Euro summit clashes, winning one. And 2026 was to be no different. It overcame heavyweights Belgium, Australia and Argentina before getting the better of Spain in an attritional WC final.

Their faith was repaid when three of five junior World Cup-winning players from 2023 and 2025 contributed two goals apiece, including Michel Struthoff, who scored the winner in the title decider. Germany’s fourth star on the shirt was created with a robust defensive structure, limiting its rivals to just seven goals in the entire tournament. It was a marked difference from the Pro League campaign, where it let in many.

While Spain was the only side to inflict a loss on Germany, it couldn’t get over the line when it mattered the most. Max Caldas’ Red Sticks lost rhythm in possession, which had served it so well in previous outings, including the shock 4-3 semifinal win over co-host Netherlands.

For Netherlands, a moment of madness from Duco Telgenkamp tilted the last four-tie in favour of the Spaniards, undoing what had been a rip-roaring campaign until then. The attacker was issued a 10-minute suspension, a period in which Spain scored thrice to silence a partisan crowd in Amstelveen.

Argentina, much like its football team, scrapped and clawed while also displaying some breathtaking attacking hockey to finish as the tournament top-scorer with 22 goals. England, tipped as a dark horse, was involved in the ‘match of the tournament’ contender in a second-round game against the Dutch. But the thrilling 2-2 draw was not enough to take it through to the final phase.

Co-host Belgium, which was ranked No. 1, disappointed after failing to beat any of the top-eight ranked oppositions. The less said the better about India that came eighth. The World Cup was marred by off-field scandals before it finished with an embarrassing moment where 12 players were on the pitch.

Winning once was good, Germany had to do it one more time. An efficient German side edged Spain 1-0 in a cagey final to claim a second successive men’s World Cup title on Sunday.

It was by no means a classic at the Belifus Arena. The finalists had derailed co-host Belgium’s journey to a home World championship decider and both boasted the meanest tournament defence. It was reflected in a tightly-fought encounter, making it a hard watch for the supporters dominated by neutrals.

Not that Germany would have minded one bit. As when it mattered, late in the third quarter, Michel Struthoff kept his calm, rounding off the Spain ‘keeper Luis Calzado to put the ball into the net for the decisive goal.

Huge feat

It was a massive achievement for head coach Andre Henning, who oversaw a massive transition with only nine returnees from the 2023 group.

Germany looked dangerous on the counter, breaking forward from deeper areas, using the wings. After just 90 seconds, Benedikt Schwarzhaupt’s drag-flick was kicked out by Calzado, but it wasn’t any indication of things to come. Spain’s defence, led by Jordi Bonastre, guarded its circle, not allowing Germany to get into shot-taking positions.

Spain, meanwhile, struggled to find its rhythm until the second quarter, and didn’t test Jean-Paul Danneberg as much as it would have liked.

Spain had three short corners in the third quarter but Pepe Cunill and Marc Miralles fired wide of the post. In the third quarter, even though Spain had the best of the exchanges, Germany remained dangerous on the counter. But a rare defensive lapse proved costly for the Iberian nation, which Struthoff capitalised on.

Chasing the equaliser, Spain took off Calzado with less than four minutes to go, but couldn’t break down a resolute German defence and its wait for a first title continued.

For the defending champion, despite its transitional state, the record-equalling fourth crown further validated Henning’s process.

The result: Final: Germany 1 (Michel Struthoff 43) bt Spain 0.

Third place: Argentina 2 (Tomas Domene 41, Matias Rey 59) bt Netherlands 1 (Floris Middendorp 49).

Relevance for World Cup classification matches is a matter of perspective. For this Indian women’s team, which suffered a heart-breaking exit in its push for a semifinal berth, a best-ever finish since the inaugural 1974 edition was at stake.

Having picked itself up to go again, this side earned itself a small piece of history by finishing fifth with a 3-1 win over Germany here at the Wagener Stadion on Thursday.

It was a counter-attacking clinic as goals from Ishika and Navneet Kaur in the second half subdued the world no. 5 ranked side.

Starting the tournament ranked ninth, Sjoerd Marijne’s India has exceeded expectations in the Netherlands, pulling off draws against China (ranked 4th), England (7th) and Australia (8th) to add to this result.

It will now head into the Asian Games next month, confident of challenging for the gold.

After a passive start, Germany came alive in the second quarter, making multiple circle entries without threatening India’s goal. But it was India which shaded Germany for attempts on goal, when Navneet’s powerful backhanded drive drew a save from Finja Starck. Salima Tete was alive to a couple of rebounds but Starck kicked them both out.

Germany continued to dominate possession for majority of the game, but the Indian defense, which included tournament debutant, Lalthantluangi, held firm.

Then, against the run of play, India opened the scoring after Neha slipped a through ball for Ishika, who composed herself before lifting the ball past Starck for her first World Cup goal.

India found plenty of joy through Germany’s centre, repeatedly catching its defense out on the counter. After having gone three games without a goal, India suddenly scored three in the space of four minutes.

After going cold from PCs in previous outings, Navneet struck from India’s second short corner before she added another with a cool flick into the roof of the net from another turnover.

Germany persevered in the last stretch with Savita Punia needing to pull off a couple of key saves, but she couldn’t keep out Lynn Krings’ effort with 67 seconds left on the clock.

The result: India 3 (Ishika 42, Navneet Kaur 43-PC, 46) bt Germany 1 ( Lynn Krings 58).

Roads, Buildings and Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has extended financial assistance of ₹10 lakh to a meritorious student from a poor family to pursue her Master’s degree in Germany.

Parimala, a native of Devarakonda, and the daughter of daily wage labourers, completed her higher education at IIT Madras and secured admission to a prestigious university in Germany for post-graduate studies. However, her family’s financial constraints threatened to derail her plans to study abroad.

When help was sought from the Minister, he sanctioned ₹10 lakh through the Komatireddy Prateek Foundation to help her pursue higher education overseas. The Minister said that poverty should never become a barrier to talent and that deserving students from economically weaker sections of the society should be extended all help.

With the Indian team entering its final stage of preparations for the World Cup, women’s hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne is focussing on fitness, aware it could be the difference in a game of small margins.

“That is our main focus now, improving the fitness, because we know they understand the tactics and we have enough matches to practice that. But these are the moments we really have to make the next step in our fitness.

“I think we’re doing really well, we are pushing the girls hard. It’s always a combination of high intensity and good rest and also finding the quality you want on the pitch. And the better the fitness is, the better the outcome will be,” he told The Hindu in an interaction on Thursday..

The team would be leaving for Germany on July 29 to play two matches before travelling to Netherlands on August 2. It will play four practice matches against Chile, Japan, Netherlands and Australia before the World Cup starts on August 15 with India’s opening game against China.

Two months mater, the team will have a chance to book an Olympic ticket at the Asian Games but Marijne understands the two are very different competitions.

“I think both tournaments are really different, there are different things at stake. Playing Asian teams is completely different than playing European or South American teams.

“The playing style at the Asian Games is more chaotic, so we have to stay away from that. I don’t see one tournament impacting the other in a negative way. It has been a while since we played China so we will see what is our level against them.

“I think Netherlands is by far the best team in the world. But, I think they all can win against each other. We will always create opportunities and that will be more difficult against higher ranked teams, so if you get three chances, you have to make at least one or two count. We’re working really hard on that,” he insisted.