India, Finland should deepen cooperation on critical battery materials, green hydrogen: Dr Antti Herlevi

Finland and India could deepen cooperation on critical battery materials, environment friendly mining, green hydrogen and smart-grid technologies as both countries expand their clean energy sectors, according to Dr Antti Herlevi, counselor for trade and investments (Water, Forest and Circular Economy) at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi.

“There should be a lot of cooperation between Finland and India regarding rare-earth and critical raw materials,” said Dr Herlevi.

Finland is targeting carbon neutrality by 2035, while India has set a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. The two countries have different renewable energy profiles. Finland’s renewable energy mix is heavily reliant on bioenergy, while India’s energy transition is increasingly centered on solar power, supported by its high solar irradiation.

“Green hydrogen is very much being researched in Finland at the moment. We are not producing or using it on a large scale yet, but there is a lot of research underway,” Dr Herlevi said.

Solar power alone is unlikely to meet Finland’s energy needs because of its lower solar resource, he added. The country is therefore pursuing a combination of green hydrogen, solar, wind and hydropower, alongside nuclear power.

Finland’s reserves of nickel, cobalt and lithium could provide an opportunity for greater cooperation with India as the latter develops domestic battery manufacturing capacity.

Finland is a major nickel producer in Europe and has known reserves of cobalt and lithium. However, some of these resources remain largely untapped.

“A lot of these are still untapped. We are not even mining them, but we know they are there,” Herlevi said.

He said Finland and India could cooperate on the development and processing of critical raw materials, including research into more efficient use of materials and environmentally responsible mining.

“Those learnings can also be brought from Finland to India when it comes to mining,” Herlevi said. “Cooperation in mining is, and should be, a growing field.”

The potential collaboration comes as India seeks to establish multi-gigawatt battery manufacturing capacity and reduce its dependence on imported critical minerals and battery materials.

According to Herlevi, the technologies required for environmentally responsible mining are available, but financing and the ability of companies to undertake large-scale projects remain challenges in Finland. International partnerships could help unlock some of these resources.

Green hydrogen is another area where the two countries could exchange expertise. Finland has been developing research and industrial capabilities around green hydrogen, although large-scale production and consumption remain limited.

The country has also established hydrogen-focused clusters bringing together companies and research institutions to explore technology and business models.

For India, which is developing green hydrogen production as part of its broader clean energy strategy, Finnish expertise could provide opportunities for technology partnerships and research collaboration.

Smart-grid technology could provide another avenue for cooperation as India expands its transmission and distribution infrastructure and integrates increasing volumes of renewable energy.

“Smart-grid development in Finland has been happening for a long time,” Herlevi said. He suggested bringing professionals from both countries together to exchange expertise on grid modernization and renewable energy integration.

Herlevi made the comments during the second day of the India Circular Economy Forum 2026 (ICEF2026) in New Delhi on August 21. The forum focused on Finland-India cooperation in circular economy, sustainable business and resource-efficient growth under the theme “Harmonising Value Chains: The New India-EU Trade Era.”

The forum brought together policymakers, business leaders, circular economy practitioners, investors and international experts to explore how India and Finland could deepen cooperation in building competitive, resilient and circular value chains with the evolving India – EU economic landscape.

 At the forum, which was a precursor to the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026, Dr Herlevi said, “Circular economy is not just an environmental agenda; it is an economic and industrial one. Finland has a long history of developing circular solutions, and more than 100 Finnish companies are already active in India across sectors including clean energy, waste management, recycling, digital solutions and sustainable design. As the Indian market continues to grow rapidly, there is a significant opportunity for Finnish businesses to work alongside local partners in India across a range of fields, combining expertise and innovation to support resource-efficient and sustainable growth. In a world of rising material demand and increasing pressure on resources, our shared experience and technologies can help advance circular solutions that retain value, reduce resource use and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Discussions at ICEF2026 highlighted how circularity, traceability, resource efficiency and responsible value chains could strengthen long-term competitiveness while opening new opportunities for innovation and international collaboration.  The forum provided actionable insights and strategies for businesses to meet their environmental compliance requirements and improve their ESG and circularity score while identifying potential growth opportunities. Indian and Finnish companies came together to explore collaboration, investment and technology partnerships, with a dedicated B2B session connecting Finnish expertise with Indian scale to advance circular solutions.