EDITORIALS & ARTICLES

What is green hydrogen, what advantages does it have, what will the Govt's Mission entail?, Discuss the challenges associated with it.

Green Hydrogen

  • Green hydrogenis a type of hydrogen that is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power.
  • The electrolysis process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen,and the hydrogen produced can be used as a clean and renewable fuel.
  • Uses:
    • Chemical industry:Manufacturing ammonia and fertilisers.
    • Petrochemical industry: Production of petroleum products.
    • Furthermore, it is starting to be used in the steel industry,a sector which is under considerable pressure in Europe because of its polluting effect.

Significance of Green Hydrogen

  • Achieving Emission Target:Green hydrogen energy is vital for India to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Targets and ensure regional and national energy security, access and availability.
    • Under the Paris Climate Agreement,India pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its economy by 33-35% from 2005 levels by 2030. Green hydrogen can drive India’s transition to clean energy, combat climate change.
  • Energy Storage and Mobility: Green Hydrogencan act as an energy storage option, which would be essential to meet intermittencies (of renewable energy) in the future.
    • In terms of mobility, forlong distance mobilizations for either urban freight movement within cities and states or for passengers, Green Hydrogen can be used in railways, large ships, buses or trucks,
  • Reducing Import Dependence:It will reduce India’s import dependency on fossil fuels. The localisation of electrolyser production and the development of green hydrogen projects can create a new green technologies market in India worth USD 18-20 billion and thousands of jobs.

Challenges Related to Green Hydrogen

  • High Production Costs:Currently, the production of green hydrogen is more expensive than hydrogen produced from fossil fuels.
    • This is because the process of electrolysis,which is used to produce green hydrogen, requires a large amount of electricity, and the cost of renewable electricity is still relatively high in India.
  • Lack of Infrastructure:There is currently a lack of infrastructure in India for the production, storage, and distribution of green hydrogen.
    • This includes a lack of hydrogen refuelling stations and pipelines for transporting 
  • Limited Adoption:Despite the potential benefits of green hydrogen, there is currently limited adoption of this technology in India.
    • This is due to alack of awareness and understanding of green hydrogen among the general public, as well as a lack of incentives for businesses to switch to this technology.
  • Economic Sustainability: Extraction of green hydrogenis one of the biggest challenges facing the industry for using hydrogen commercially.
    • For transportation fuel cells, hydrogen must be cost-competitivewith conventional fuels and technologies on a per-mile basis.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

The Mission states that India will develop green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million tonnes (MT) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 gigawatts (GW) in the country by 2030. This will entail over Rs 8 lakh crore of total investments and is expected to generate six lakh jobs. It will also lead to a cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports by over Rs 1 lakh crore and an abatement of nearly 50 MT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Looking ahead

  • Increase the Capacity to Generate Renewable Electricity:In order to reduce the cost of green hydrogen production, it is necessary to increase the capacity to generate renewable electricity in India.
    • This can be done through the expansion of renewable energy sourcessuch as solar and wind power.
  • Developing Hydrogen Infrastructure: There is a need to develop infrastructure for the production, storage, and distribution of green hydrogento make this technology more accessible. This includes building hydrogen refuelling stations and pipelines for transporting hydrogen.
  • Implement Regulatory Incentives:The government can play a key role in promoting the adoption of green hydrogen by implementing regulatory incentives, such as tax credits and subsidies, to encourage the production and use of this technology.
  • Raise Awareness and Understanding of Green Hydrogen:It is important to educate the public about the benefits of green hydrogen and the role it can play in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    • This can be done through public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives.

Read More - https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/indias-green-hydrogen-push-national-green-hydrogen-mission-8361850/ 







POSTED ON 09-01-2023 BY ADMIN
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