Green Hydrogen push will need to counter challenges

Source: The post is based on the article “Green Hydrogen push will need to counter challenges” published in “Indian express” on 27th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Economy- Infrastructure (renewable energy)

News: The article discusses India’s efforts to use green hydrogen, a clean fuel, for buses. The government aims to make India a hub for this fuel, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and cutting emissions. However, producing green hydrogen needs a lot of water and electricity from renewable sources, which are challenges.

What is India’s Green Hydrogen Mission?

Objective: To make India a hub for green hydrogen, a clean fuel.

Initial Steps: Tested two buses running on green hydrogen with plans to introduce 15 more by year’s end.

Ambitious Target: Aims to produce 5 million tones green hydrogen annually by 2030.

Benefits: 

Reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, saving Rs 1 lakh crore.

Averting 50 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the challenges in the production of green hydrogen?

Renewable Energy Needs: India needs to add about 100 GW of renewable energy capacity every year to achieve its green hydrogen goals.

Water Scarcity: The production process requires 8-9 litres of water per kg of hydrogen, posing challenges in water-stressed areas.

Limited Electrolyser Capacity: The current global manufacturing capacity of electrolysers is around 10 GW, but India may need six to 10 times the world’s current capacity to meet its 2030 target.

Safety Concerns: Green hydrogen is highly flammable, creating significant safety and transport challenges.

How is India planning to overcome these challenges?

Development and Investment: India is investing in the development of electrolyser technology to enhance green hydrogen production capacity.

Collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation: The government is collaborating with Indian Oil Corporation to leverage its proven capacities for the green hydrogen vehicle project.

Addressing Safety Concerns: Initial hydrogen-powered buses will not be carrying passengers to tackle the safety concerns due to hydrogen’s highly inflammable nature.

International Partnerships: The government is seeking to forge partnerships with other nations to gain more expertise and access to markets.