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Green Aero Is Building India’s First Hydrogen Jet Engine Startup

Soumya Verma
4 Min Read

In a modest Delhi workspace, a small team of Indian engineers is chasing what many believe is impossible—building hydrogen-powered jet engines that could rewrite the future of flight.

Green Aero, a deep-tech startup founded by aerospace innovators and clean fuel researchers, is creating India’s first indigenous hydrogen propulsion system for aircraft. While global aviation giants are pouring billions into hydrogen R&D, Green Aero is doing it with limited capital—but limitless ambition.

“Our dream is simple,” says one of the co-founders. “We want Indian skies to run on clean fuel, and we want to build that future right here, from scratch.”

Why Hydrogen? Because the Planet Can’t Wait

The aviation industry contributes nearly 3% of global carbon emissions—a number expected to triple by 2050. As climate deadlines loom, hydrogen has emerged as a leading candidate to decarbonize the skies.

While Europe races ahead with billion-dollar hydrogen aircraft programs, India is just beginning. That’s where Green Aero steps in—with a technology that can potentially power drones, defense aircraft, and short-range planes using zero-emission hydrogen fuel.

Their first major goal? A working prototype of a hydrogen-powered UAV jet engine by mid-2026.

From Garage to Green Lab: The Journey of Innovation

Green Aero’s story isn’t one of venture capital or fancy launchpads—it’s about grit, late nights, and a belief in purpose over profit.

Currently operating from a test lab in Delhi NCR, the startup is building:

  • Hydrogen-compatible jet engine cores
  • Advanced fuel cell systems
  • AI-integrated engine control software
  • Lightweight onboard hydrogen storage modules

All this while navigating regulatory gaps, limited funding, and high development costs.

Yet the founders remain undeterred.

“We’re not building engines to compete with Airbus,” one of the engineers says. “We’re building them so that Indian kids in 2040 won’t breathe toxic skies.”

Where Will Hydrogen Jet Engines Be Used?

Green Aero’s initial focus is on:

  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for defense, surveillance, and logistics
  • Short-haul regional aircraft for inter-city air travel
  • Future eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles) in India’s urban air mobility sector

This aligns perfectly with the government’s Drone Shakti initiative and India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production and use.

The Global Opportunity Is Massive—And India’s Time Is Now

The global hydrogen aviation market is expected to reach $20 billion+ by 2035, with rising interest from defense ministries, climate tech investors, and aerospace suppliers.

India, with its vast domestic aviation needs and climate goals, has every reason to lead—but needs bold players like Green Aero to show the way.

“If we don’t build it, someone else will,” a Green Aero team member says. “And they’ll sell it back to us.”

What’s Next for Green Aero?

The startup is currently:

  • Seeking pre-Series A funding (₹15–20 crore)
  • Partnering with top Indian engineering institutes for R&D
  • Applying for government grants under Startup India & DRDO programs
  • Planning real-world engine testing by Q3 2026

They’re also in early conversations with drone manufacturers and defense suppliers to pilot hydrogen-based UAV integration.

The Future of Aviation Needs Courage—Green Aero Has It

Green Aero isn’t just building engines; it’s building hope, ambition, and an alternative path for Indian innovation. Their work reflects a deeper truth—that climate leadership doesn’t require billion-dollar facilities. It just needs vision, talent, and urgency.

“We’re betting on clean skies, not just clean profits,” the founders say.

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