Green hydrogen is game changer for India?
From the last two years green Hydrogen has become the buzzword in the world, capturing global attention as a potential game-changer. It’s a special fuel that can do amazing things! It can power cars, planes, ships, and even trains. It’s so versatile! But there’s a special kind of hydrogen that’s getting a lot of attention these days – it’s called green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is really clean and good for the environment. It’s made using renewable energy sources, which means it doesn’t produce harmful emissions. People all over the world are excited about green hydrogen because it can help us make our planet cleaner and healthier. Most importantly, countries that become the largest producers of green hydrogen could potentially gain significant influence in global geopolitics.
It is crucial for India to prioritize the production of its own renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen. Currently, India heavily relies on imports for 40% of its primary energy, which makes it extremely vulnerable in case of geopolitical tensions and uncertainties. As the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, India faces significant environmental challenges. By establishing a strong domestic green hydrogen industry, India can empower key sectors such as steel, transportation, and chemicals, driving sustainable growth and reducing emissions.
Recognizing the importance of green hydrogen, the Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission on 4th January 2023, allocating ₹19,744 crore for its implementation. The mission’s overarching objective is to position India as a global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. With a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, India is also striving towards energy independence by 2047 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
To better understand India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and its future plans, let’s delve into the story and explore the details.
On 4th January 2023, the Indian government made an important decision. They approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make India a global hub for producing, using, and exporting Green Hydrogen. The government has set aside a budget of ₹19,744 crore for this mission from FY 2023-24 to FY 2029-30.
To make this mission successful, India has planned different things. The government wants to create demand for Green Hydrogen through exports and domestic usage. They have programs to help with manufacturing electrolysers and producing green hydrogen. Pilot projects will be tried out in industries like steel, mobility, and shipping. Special hubs for Green Hydrogen will be developed. The government will support the development of the necessary infrastructure and set up regulations and standards. Research and development, skill development, and creating awareness among the public are also on their agenda.
By the year 2030, India has big goals to achieve. The aim is to produce 5 million metric tonnes of Green Hydrogen every year. This will reduce the country’s need for importing fossil fuels and save a lot of money. It will also help in reducing CO2 emissions, which harm the environment. The government is taking these steps to make India cleaner and more sustainable
If you are curious to know more about green hydrogen mission I am attaching a PDF here go and check out
Now, let’s understand a little bit about green hydrogen, how it can be obtained and How it helps to produce energy.
Hydrogen, the first element on the periodic table, is incredibly abundant in the universe and even it can be found in the sun and stars. However, in its natural state, hydrogen is not typically found alone or in isolation. Instead, it is often combined with other elements to form compounds. For example, hydrogen can be found bound to oxygen in water or combined with nitrogen in ammonia. This means that hydrogen is commonly encountered in combination with other elements.
However, there are several methods for separating hydrogen from other elements, which can be categorised into three major categories:
- Grey hydrogen: Grey hydrogen is produced by splitting methane and coal using a process called steam methane reforming or gasification
- Blue hydrogen: Blue hydrogen is similar to grey hydrogen and is produced using the same technique called steam methane reforming.
- Green hydrogen: Green hydrogen is not produced from methane or coal, but rather from renewable energy sources using a process called electrolysis.
As we all know, green hydrogen, the cleanest form of hydrogen that doesn’t create any pollution. Many people think it’s a source of energy, but that’s not quite accurate. Green hydrogen is actually an energy carrier, which means it helps transport and store energy.
If you look at the production of green hydrogen first there will be a solar power plant generating electricity. This electricity is used to perform electrolysis. During electrolysis, water (H2O) is split into its components: hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O). The hydrogen that is produced through this process is then collected and stored for later use.
Now, let’s see how this green hydrogen can change the Indian economy and why it’s so important for transportation, chemical, and steel industries.
Think about transportation, like cars, buses, and trucks. They usually run on fossil fuels, which release harmful emissions into the air. But with green hydrogen, we can have a different kind of fuel. Hydrogen fuel cells can be used in vehicles. These fuel cells combine hydrogen with oxygen from the air to create electricity, and the only byproduct is water vapor. That means zero pollution! By using green hydrogen as a fuel, we can reduce air pollution and fight climate change.
And If you consider electric cars, they require a large amount of storage space for their batteries. However, with hydrogen fuel cells, the storage requirements are much lower. Additionally, charging time is a game-changing factor. For instance, a Tesla model S electric car may take around half an hour to charge and provide a range of 400 kilometers, but when it comes to hydrogen-powered vehicles, even large trucks with a payload of 32 tonnes, can be refueled in just 8 minutes. This significantly reduces downtime and enables efficient operations, which is a huge advantage for the transport industry in India
Next, let’s look at the chemical industry. They use a lot of fossil fuels in their processes, which adds to pollution. However, by replacing those fossil fuels with green hydrogen, we can make a big difference. Green hydrogen can be used to make various chemicals, like ammonia, methanol, and synthetic fuels. By using green hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, we can make the chemical industry cleaner and more sustainable.
Lastly, let’s talk about the steel industry. Making steel usually involves burning coal or natural gas, which releases a lot of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. And Here’s where major important think india should consider is carbon border tax european union is came up with this scheme to maintain the carbon emission in this scheme if any country releases the carbon emission beyond certain limits that country should be fined and those fines are very huge that could cause huge losses to the industry and for india steel industry very important steel industry alone contributing 2 percent of india’s gdp and india is the 2nd largest steel producer in the world and in 2022 india exported 12.8 million metric tons of steel and on the other side indian steel industry emitting huge carbon byproducts 10% of all emission in india. At the moment green hydrogen is really a game changer for India, helping the country become greener and less reliant on other nations for fuel. If the green hydrogen mission succeeds, India would no longer have to depend on foreign countries for its fuel needs.
Indian government set to produce green and to emerge global leader in producing green hydrogen. The government has already announced its first investment of 19,744 crores in producing hydrogen and India has set its goal to produce 5 million metric tons per year.
The ministry of new and renewable energy under National Green Hydrogen Mission, India aims to create demand and boost domestic electrolyser manufacturing capacity. The mission focuses on incentivizing indigenization and promoting Make in India. It plans to utilise Green Hydrogen in refineries, fertilizers, and city gas sectors to drive sustained demand and attract investments. Pilot projects will be initiated in sectors like steel production, heavy-duty mobility, and shipping to facilitate green transitions. The mission also aims to establish regulatory frameworks, standards, and cost reduction measures for wider deployment in subsequent phases.
Sounds very good, right? But there are certain challenges India needs to face in utilising and producing green hydrogen.
Currently, the cost of green hydrogen production in India is 5-6 dollars per kg, which is significantly higher compared to lithium-ion batteries. However, India is actively working towards reducing this cost to 1-2 dollars per kg.
Secondly, round trip efficiency is like a measure of how much energy we lose when we change electricity into hydrogen, store it, and then change it back into electricity. Right now, the round trip efficiency is around 40 to 50%. This means that out of 100% of energy, we lose about 40% to 50% during these processes
Indian tycoons like Mukesh Ambani and Adani are investing billions of dollars in green hydrogen, and it is hoped that they have comprehensive plans in place to tackle these problems effectively.
In conclusion, while green hydrogen holds great promise for India, the high cost of production and the round trip efficiency issue are challenges that need to be overcome. With the investments and efforts being made, it is hopeful that these challenges will be addressed, paving the way for a sustainable and successful green hydrogen industry in India.