EXI funding: Support for German projects in hydrogen & fuel cell supply
The “Export Initiative Environmental Protection” (EXI) is a funding programme initiated by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in 2016. The programme promotes green innovations, products and services worldwide to establish environmental standards, disseminate environmental knowledge and improve the underlying ecological and living conditions for local populations. EXI focuses on supporting projects that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in countries with a strong demand for environmental-friendly and resource-efficient technologies and services.
In 2021, “green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies” were added as one of EXI’s action areas. In this priority area, international projects of German entities relating to decentralised/off-grid energy supply with green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are supported. So far, EXI has funded pilot/demonstration projects in South Africa (HyTrA), Ghana (GH2GH), Namibia (HygO), India (ECO-FCGen) and Thailand (Green-H2Islands) as well as feasibility studies in Jordan (GJWHD, WRAP_GH2) within this action area. Furthermore, various market studies were conducted by several German Chambers of Commerce and Industry Abroad (AHK) on the implementation of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in countries like Chile, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Pacific Island Countries, the Cook Islands, the Philippines or Thailand.
Overview of EXI projects worldwide
A new funding call is open from 26 November 2025 until 15 February 2026. German companies and research institutions are eligible for the funding. Priority is given to pilot/demonstration projects realised by small and medium-sized enterprises or research institutions – who may operate/apply as consortia – in partner countries abroad. The programme focuses on applications with significant environmental impact, (local) value creation as well as strong replication and scaling potential.
- More information on the funding call (in German)
- More information on the EXI-programme
NOW GmbH is responsible for EXI’s focus area on green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in decentralised energy supply since 2021. Together with EXI’s project management organisation Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH, NOW GmbH offers support for organisations interested in submitting a project draft. Please do not hesitate to reach out to exportinitiative@now-gmbh.de.