Hydrogen Fuel Technology in India

The element hydrogen is the most abundant and simplest element existing in the universe. The is the primary component of nearly all existing matter be it water, air, fuels and all living things. But because of its simple structure and high reactivity it rarely exists in its gaseous form. It is generally produced from secondary sources like petroleum oil, natural gas, biomass or electrolysis of water. Molecular hydrogen, when produced using the said methods, can generate a huge amount of energy by reacting with oxygen and produce water as a by-product. As this process does not produce any greenhouse gases, hydrogen is categorised as a clean energy source.

Based on the method of production, hydrogen fuel is generally classified into two categories — blue hydrogen and green hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is formed through the splitting of natural gas into molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide. By contrast, green hydrogen is obtained by splitting water via electrolysis. The process gives hydrogen and oxygen as a result. These electrolysis processes utilize renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind. Furthermore, the entire production process does not give carbon dioxide or any other greenhouse gas as a by-product, thus, making green hydrogen the cleanest available fuel option.

As a part of its ambitious 2030 emissions targets, the Indian government wants to reduce the emission intensity of its economy by 45 percent from current levels by 2030. But there is limited infrastructure regarding hydrogen technology and the scale of hydrogen dispensing units available in the country, and hydrogen technology is still in very early phase in the country. In his recently introduced National Hydrogen Energy Mission Programme, the Prime Minister aims to increase the production of green hydrogen while increasing access to renewable energy. Also, launched in August 2021, the National Hydrogen Mission aims to increase green hydrogen production in India and use it in several sectors like transportation. As green hydrogen provides a significant potential for decarbonisation, this is encouraging. However, whether green hydrogen becomes a significant part of Indias road will be at least partially determined by the consumer price.

As a part of its Development and Demonstration programme on Hydrogen Energy and Fuel, The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy supports a number of projects. This includes industrial, academic and research institutions to undertake and deal with issues regarding green hydrogen, such as its application as an energy source, efficient and safe storage, and use in the transportation sector as fuel cell or combustion fuel. This led to development of internal combustion engines, two wheelers, three wheelers and minibuses operating on hydrogen fuel. Both Indian Oils R&D Centre in Faridabad and The National Institute of Solar Energy in Gurugram and have set up hydrogen refuelling stations under this initiative.

As a result of these positive steps, hydrogen fuel cell technology can play a dominant role in the future of mobility across segments, from public transportation to commercial vehicles and personal cars.