How is India Reducing Hydrogen Production Imports?

Bengaluru, Sep 19 (NationPress) Dr. V.K. Saraswat, a prominent member of NITI Aayog, emphasized on Friday the importance of reducing imports associated with hydrogen production in India.

While addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Saraswat remarked, "Efforts are in progress across various sectors regarding hydrogen fuel. Our ambitious goal is to produce 5 million metric tonnes of hydrogen fuel by 2030. Although we haven't fully assessed our progress yet, we are definitely on the right track."

He pointed out that ongoing research and development initiatives are concentrated on decreasing imports for hydrogen production. Current projects include the establishment of hydrogen charging stations, the manufacturing of high-pressure cylinders, and several related fields.

“The Indian government has initiated the Hydrogen Mission with an investment of Rs 19,200 crore. The goal is to harness hydrogen across multiple sectors. Already, plants for hydrogen production are being set up, and numerous electrolyzer units are coming online, particularly for green hydrogen plants,” he mentioned.

“Under this mission, three Hydrogen Valley projects have been launched. The first is a 50 megawatt plant, followed by a 100 megawatt plant, and subsequently, a 500 megawatt plant will be established. We are engaging industries in a challenge mode, and these projects are being developed in various regions of the country,” Saraswat elaborated.

To boost hydrogen production, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has called for proposals under a challenge mode aimed at creating hydrogen production facilities. Multiple industries are currently importing electrolyzers to manufacture hydrogen. Clean hydrogen is already in production in the country, he noted.

Some facilities are utilizing solar energy for green hydrogen, while others rely on grid energy. Hydrogen generated from solar energy is referred to as green hydrogen. The government is offering subsidies for those establishing electrolyzer plants and fuel cell plants, he added.

Numerous automobile manufacturers are also stepping up, developing fuel cell vehicles alongside battery-operated vehicles. Innovations are taking place across the board, and infrastructure for hydrogen storage is being established, Saraswat emphasized.

He further mentioned that a new program for producing hydrogen via nuclear energy was announced in the last budget. Hydrogen generated from nuclear energy will represent the cleanest and most economical form of energy. Progress is being made in this area. In the steam methane reforming sector, the government is encouraging private sector involvement and implementing policy changes, he stated.

Extensive research is also being conducted on hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. “We are exploring the possibility of using hydrogen in conjunction with CNG. An experimental bus has already been operated on this basis,” he said.

The current cost of green hydrogen ranges between $4 and $5 per unit, but efforts are underway to reduce this to $1. Achieving this will require several reforms, including lowering the cost of electrolyzers, reducing energy costs, and fostering domestic development of critical materials instead of relying on imports, he explained.

Research collaborations are taking place internationally, with a hydrogen alliance being formed. India is cooperating with various nations, Saraswat noted.

“If we aspire to use hydrogen as a fuel, akin to petrol available at gas stations, to power buses and cars, we need to build recharging infrastructure. Currently, nine such hydrogen centers are being established, with Tata leading the infrastructure development,” he mentioned.

“I advocate for maximizing the use of blue hydrogen to lower costs, which will also contribute to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. This can be produced from coal, natural gas, and biomass. At present, we are primarily focused on generating green hydrogen through water electrolysis,” he asserted.

“Hydrogen is a clean fuel. When combusted, it emits no carbon, resulting in zero particulate matter. Whether burned in a commercial chamber or utilized on the fuel side, it does not contribute to pollution. The particulate matter will be nonexistent,” Saraswat concluded.