India is all set to expand its infrastructure of the hydrogen supply chain, as it plans to speed up its carbon-free fuel generation plans, with a potential edge over other non-fossil fuels, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday. “Hydrogen is a great source of energy for the future,” he said. “Whether it is used in a fuel cell or burnt to create heat, hydrogen slows global warming wherever it is used to replace fossil fuels.” Carbon-free hydrogen can be produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity from fossil fuels like gas or coal. This can be used as a transport fuel for the hydrogen generated. The supply and distribution of hydrogen in India is nevertheless facing challenges such as high production costs and complimentary infrastructure needs. Speaking during a roundtable on the hydrogen economy, Pradhan said, “ The government is integrating this with flagship programmes like SATAT that generates compressed bio gas from municipal and agri-wastes, to increase the infrastructure of hydrogen supplies chain in the country.” He said hydrogen was being mixed with compressed natural gas (CNG), in order to be used as a transport fuel and an industrial input for refineries, and was working on pilot projects to produce blue hydrogen (from fossil fuels) and green hydrogen (from renewable sources). “In Delhi, fifty buses operate on a pilot basis using CNG combined with hydrogen. In the next few days or months, we plan to scale it across Indian major cities”, he said. Pradhan also said several hydrogen-energy initiatives are being taken in India’s energy mix, including the recent budget announcement of a National Hydrogen Mission to prepare a country roadmap.
Indian refineries plan to use the surplus hydrogen capacity available to meet the initial request for hydrogen mainstreaming. One of these projects is being undertaken in Gujarat refinery Indian Oil, where blue hydrogen will be produced through the combination of natural gas hydrogen production and carbon capture technology. The various iconic routes will be covered by several buses powered by fuel cells. “ Experience is being made to use the vast infrastructure in the CNG pipeline to reduce the hydrogen transport costs,” he added. He said the contours of India’s energy transition plan includes developing emerging fuels, in particular hydrogen, stating that global efforts are focused on finding ways to develop a hydrogen economy. ” We are developing a growth-focused, industrially friendly and environmentally friendly energy sector, “he said.
“For Indians to improve their lives and their need for a tiny carbon footprint, this will require ample access to affordable energy,” stated Pradhan. The inclusion of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the future energy portfolio, offers a unique chance to address emerging energy industries, including gas power, electricity and mobility power, and even grid vehicles, he said. According to Pradhan, India continues to work on environmental and climate issues with a massive focus on renewables and energy efficiency. . The renewable energy portfolio of India has grown from 32 GW to almost 100 GW in the last six years. By 2030, India aims at generating capacity for 450 GW of renewable energy. “The key lever to enable energy transition would be the diversification of our energy basket,” he said. “Nevertheless, it is equally important that the new energy mix options synergize and co-exist in the respective countries with the established base technology, which already operates in large capital investments.”
Hydrogen can easily be incorporated into the energy mix by establishing synergies with natural gas without seeking significant infrastructural rework, he said. “We’re looking forward to introducing H-CNG to automotive and domestic cooking as intermittent technology,” added Pradhan.
