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Ecology & Environment
Pradeep Kumar

22/04/21 11:05 AM IST

National Hydrogen Energy Mission

In news

India will soon join 15 other countries in the hydrogen club as it prepares to launch the National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHEM).

Highlights
  • The global target is to produce 1.45 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2023.
  • Currently, India consumes around 5.5 million tonnes of hydrogen, primarily produced from imported fossil fuels.
  • In 2030, according to an analysis by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), green hydrogen demand could be up to 1 million tonnes in India across application in sectors such as ammonia, steel, methanol, transport and energy storage.
  • Hydrogen is said to be the alternative fuel and would replace fossil fuels
  • India has set its goals to de-carbonize itself by 2050.
Major issues and solutions
  • First, decentralised hydrogen production must be promoted through open access of renewable power to an electrolyser (which splits water to form H2 and O2 using electricity).
  • Currently, most renewable energy resources that can produce low-cost electricity are situated far from potential demand centres.
  • If hydrogen were to be shipped, it would significantly erode the economics of it.
  • A more viable option would be wheeling electricity directly from the solar plant. 
  • Second, we need mechanisms to ensure access to round-the-clock renewable power for decentralised hydrogen production.
  • To minimise intermittency associated with renewable energy, for a given level of hydrogen production capacity, a green hydrogen facility will typically oversize the electrolyser, and store hydrogen to ensure continuous hydrogen supply.
  • Third, we must take steps to blend green hydrogen in existing processes, especially the industrial sector.
  • Improving the reliability of hydrogen supply by augmenting green hydrogen with conventionally produced hydrogen will significantly improve the economics of the fuel. This will also help build a technical understanding of the processes involved in handling hydrogen on a large scale.
  • Fourth, policymakers must facilitate investments in early-stage piloting and the research and development needed to advance the technology for use in India. The growing interest in hydrogen is triggered by the anticipated steep decline in electrolyser costs. 
Source: The Hindu

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