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The IISc and the Research and Development Centre of Indian Oil Corporation Limited had signed a MoU to develop and demonstrate biomass gasification-based hydrogen generation technology for producing fuel cell-grade hydrogen at an affordable price.

In a boost for the clean energy sector, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited, has developed a process to produce hydrogen fuel from biomass that doesn’t involve combustion.

Highlights

• The IISc and the Research and Development Centre of Indian Oil Corporation Limited had signed a MoU to develop and demonstrate biomass gasification-based hydrogen generation technology for producing fuel cell-grade hydrogen at an affordable price.
• This is another step to bring hydrogen fuel into India’s mainstream energy matrix while utilising the agrarian strengths of the country.

Uses

• Hydrogen generated from this demonstration plant will be used to power fuel cell buses as part of a bigger project being conceived by Indian Oil towards ushering in the country's hydrogen economy.
• Hydrogen-based fuel cell technology is a sustainable green mobility solution for India. Fuel cell electric vehicles are powered by hydrogen and emit only pure water as tailpipe emissions.
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• Fuel cell technology for an automotive application requires ultrapure hydrogen with impurities less than ppb level.

Biomass gasification

• It is a controlled process that involves heat, steam, and oxygen to convert biomass to hydrogen and other products without combustion.
• The technology developed by IISc first produces hydrogen-rich syngas (synthetic gas) from biomass and then separates hydrogen from the syngas.
• “The technology envisaged under this programme would not only provide a cleaner energy option for India but will also be a step towards addressing the challenge of biomass waste,”
• This is another step to bring hydrogen fuel into India’s mainstream energy matrix while utilising the agrarian strengths of the country.

Source: Indian Express