Green Hydrogen energy for an Atmanirbhar Bharat

 Mukul Chandra Bora

(Director, Dibrugarh University Institute of Engineering and Technology)

The National Green Hydrogen Mission in Bharat has started in 2021 after the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India stated at his 75th Independence Day address from the Red Fort that “of every effort being made by India today, the thing that is going to help India with a quantum leap in terms of climate is the field of green hydrogen. To achieve the goal of green hydrogen, I am announcing the National Hydrogen Mission today with this tricolour as a witness,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2021.

The salient features of the National Hydrogen Mission are:

The proposed National Hydrogen Energy Mission aims to lay down the vision, intent, and direction for harnessing hydrogen energy by the Government of India.

The aim is to develop India as a global hub for the manufacturing of hydrogen and fuel cell technology across the value chain.

The mission would put forward specific strategies for the short term (four years) and broad stroke principles for the long term (10 years and beyond).

It will provide the necessary flexibility to capture the benefits of the advances that are taking place in the technological landscape.

The Government of India will facilitate demand creation in identified segments. Possible areas include suitable mandates for the use of green hydrogen in industries such as fertiliser, steel, petrochemicals, etc.

Major activities envisaged under the mission include creating volumes and infrastructure; demonstrations in niche applications including transport and industry; goal-oriented research and development; facilitative policy support; and putting in place a robust framework for standards and regulations for hydrogen technologies.

The mission aims to aid the government in meeting its climate targets and making India a green hydrogen hub. This will help in meeting the target of producing five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030 and the related development of renewable energy capacity.

It’s worth noting that the Prime Minister of Bharat not only introduced the Green Hydrogen Mission but also mentioned the Green Ammonia Policy in the same Independence Day address. Both hydrogen and ammonia are envisioned as the future of fuels, set to replace fossil fuels in the years ahead. In this article, our primary focus will be on the role of green hydrogen in achieving net zero targets and transitioning to it as the fuel of the future. Details about green ammonia as a sustainable fuel will be covered in a forthcoming article.

Hydrogen is emerging as a crucial energy source due to its zero carbon content and environmentally friendly attributes, unlike hydrocarbons, which have a carbon content ranging from 75% to 85%. Hydrogen energy is expected to play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, which are projected to increase by 1.5 billion metric tonnes in 2021. It boasts the highest energy content by weight and the lowest energy content by volume. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), hydrogen is expected to constitute six percent of total energy consumption by 2050. The Hydrogen Council Report of 2021 also predicts that global investments in hydrogen will make up approximately 1.4 percent of the total global energy funding by 2030. Presently, global hydrogen demand stands at 70 million metric tonnes per year, with over 76 percent being produced from natural gas, 23 percent from coal, and the remainder from water electrolysis.

Hydrogen can be generated through electrolysis using renewable electricity, but this will increase demands on the electricity grid. Various uncertainties exist, including the potential for increased demand on the electricity system, the possibility of nuclear power investments for hydrogen production, and whether “spare” renewable energy will be used for hydrogen production. Additionally, hydrogen can serve as an energy storage medium to address supply and demand imbalances in the electrical system, mitigating the intermittency issues associated with renewables like wind and solar power.

Hydrogen is categorized into three types based on its production method: grey, blue, and green. There is a growing emphasis on increasing the production of green and blue hydrogen due to their low carbon emissions and the use of carbon offset technology, respectively. Furthermore, leading organizations are exploring technologies to convert bio and plastic waste into hydrogen, offering significant investment opportunities. This technology has the potential to address India’s dual challenges of waste management and energy security.

Grey Hydrogen: This type of hydrogen is characterised by high emissions resulting from its production through processes like natural gas reforming or coal gasification, which often involve the use of fossil fuels (e.g., natural gas) or biomass. Importantly, the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced during its manufacture are not mitigated through carbon capture and storage (CCS). Grey hydrogen is associated with significant greenhouse gas emissions and is currently a prominent method for industrial hydrogen production, notably in applications like ammonia production.

Blue Hydrogen: Blue hydrogen is a more environmentally friendly alternative, generated through processes like natural gas reforming or coal gasification, typically using fossil fuels (e.g., natural gas) or biomass. What sets it apart is that approximately 95% of the CO2 emissions produced during its production are captured and stored using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. However, it’s worth noting that hydrogen produced from natural gas may contain impurities due to the natural gas feedstock, making it unsuitable for applications requiring high purity. Despite its lower emissions, blue hydrogen faces sustainability challenges stemming from limitations in CCS (approximately 95% CO2 capture), potential constraints on CO2 storage and utilization capacity, and upstream emissions associated with the oil and gas industry. To achieve true net-zero emissions, blue hydrogen may require the sequestration of remaining CO2 through negative emissions technologies like Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC).

Green Hydrogen: Green hydrogen represents a low- or zero-emission hydrogen variant produced through the electrolysis of water using carbon-free energy sources like renewables, nuclear power, or biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). This process relies on water as a feedstock and generates pure oxygen as a valuable by-product with commercial applications in welding, medical uses, and chemical processes. Green hydrogen, generated from water electrolysis using net zero-carbon electricity, doesn’t inherently pose CO2 emissions limitations, as it doesn’t produce by-products (aside from potentially concentrated brine). However, it’s an emerging technology that requires substantial development and cost reduction to become scalable. The availability of surplus energy for green hydrogen production will depend on various factors in the energy transition, such as the deployment of renewable energy assets, competing demands for electrification in other sectors, and the extent of energy efficiency improvements like home retrofits.

In India, the Indian Oil Corporation is actively working on producing hydrogen through sustainable methods such as solar energy, biomass gasification, and bio-methanation, aiming to make the process more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. As part of its transition plans, the company intends to establish a 7 KTPA (kilo tonnes per annum) electrolysis plant at its Panipat refinery, with a planned completion date of 2025, at a cost of Rs 2000 crore. This initiative aligns with efforts to adopt cleaner and more sustainable hydrogen production methods.

The different uses of hydrogen as energy in different sectors may be enumerated as below:

Hydrogen use today is dominated by industry, namely: oil refining, ammonia production, methanol production, and steel production. Virtually all of this hydrogen is supplied using fossil fuels, so there is significant potential for emissions reductions from clean hydrogen.

In transport, the competitiveness of hydrogen fuel cell cars depends on fuel cell costs and refuelling stations, while for trucks, the priority is to reduce the delivered price of hydrogen. Shipping and aviation have limited low-carbon fuel options available and represent an opportunity for hydrogen-based fuels.

In buildings, hydrogen could be blended into existing natural gas networks, with the highest potential in multifamily and commercial buildings, particularly in dense cities, while longer-term prospects could include the direct use of hydrogen in hydrogen boilers or fuel cells.

In power generation, hydrogen is one of the leading options for storing renewable energy, and hydrogen and ammonia can be used in gas turbines to increase power system flexibility. Ammonia could also be used in coal-fired power plants to reduce emissions.

Indian Scenario of Use of Hydrogen Energy:

Hydrogen for integrating renewable energy Hydrogen provides a means for the storage of variable renewable energy to stabilise its output. For long-term storage, running into several hours, converting excess available energy into hydrogen and utilising it for grid support and other applications is seen as a suitable alternative.

Hydrogen in Industry In industry, hydrogen can potentially replace coal and coke in iron and steel production. Steel manufacturing is one of the largest carbon emitters in the world, and decarbonising this sector using hydrogen is expected to have a significant impact on our climate goals.

Hydrogen has the potential to reduce fossil fuel imports.

At present, hydrogen produced from natural gas is widely utilised for the production of nitrogenous fertilisers and petrochemicals. Substituting this with green hydrogen could allow the use of renewable energy in these important sectors and reduce import dependence.

India’s annual ammonia consumption for fertiliser production is about 15 million metric tonnes; roughly 15 percent of this demand (over 2 million metric tonnes per year) is currently met from imports. Mandating even 1 percent green ammonia share is likely to save about 0.4 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas import.

The use of hydrogen in the steel industry could substitute for imported coking coal. During 2018–19, the total demand for coking coal in the steel industry was 58.37 million metric tonnes (MT). Out of this, 51.83 MT was met through imports.

Hydrogen-based Transport:

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) operate using hydrogen fuel, emitting no harmful pollutants, making them a compelling choice for heavy-duty vehicles like buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles with longer travel distances. On the other hand, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are suitable for light passenger vehicles and shorter driving ranges. It’s important to note that electric vehicles (EVs) rely on imported raw materials like lithium and cobalt for their lithium-ion batteries, whereas the hydrogen fuel cell supply chain can be fully developed within the country, promoting self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) and cleaner transportation systems.

India’s Progress Towards Green Hydrogen:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions India as an energy-independent nation by 2047, with green hydrogen playing a significant role as an alternative to petroleum and fossil-based products.

In 2020, India’s hydrogen demand was 6 million metric tonnes per year, and it is expected that by 2030, hydrogen costs will decrease by 50%.

The demand for hydrogen is projected to increase fivefold to 28 million metric tonnes by 2050, with 80% of this demand being sourced from green hydrogen.

Leading industrial giants like Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) are planning to venture into the green hydrogen sector. RIL, for instance, aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2035 and invest nearly INR 750 billion in renewable energy over the next three years.

India has expressed its aspiration to become a hydrogen exporter to countries like Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

The Indian government has supported various projects focused on hydrogen-powered vehicles. Notable examples include Tata Motors Ltd. developing six fuel cell buses, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. collaborating with the Government of NCT of Delhi to introduce 50 hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) buses in Delhi, and IIT Delhi partnering with Mahindra & Mahindra to create two hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine buses.

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) run on hydrogen fuel and have no harmful emissions. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) may be suitable for the light passenger vehicle segment for a shorter driving range. For heavy-duty vehicles with a longer trip range, such as buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles, FCEVs are likely to become cost-competitive in the coming years. It is worth mentioning that electric vehicles (EVs) are solely dependent on imported raw materials like lithium and cobalt for lithium-ion batteries; the hydrogen fuel cell supply chain can be wholly indigenized, making Aatmanirbhar Bharat and clean transportation systems.

India’s Progress towards Green Hydrogen

Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to transform India into an energy-independent nation by 2047, where green hydrogen will play an active role as an alternate fuel to petroleum and fossil-based products.

In 2020, India’s hydrogen demand stood at 6 million metric tonnes (MT) per year. It is estimated that by 2030, hydrogen costs will be down by 50 percent.

The demand for hydrogen is expected to see a five-fold jump to 28 MT by 2050, where 80 percent of the demand is expected to be green in nature.

Some of the prominent industrial mammoths, such as Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), and Larsen and Toubro (L&T), plan to foray into the green hydrogen space. RIL plans to become a net-carbon-zero firm by 2035 and invest nearly INR 750 billion over the next three years in RE.

India has declared its ambition to become an exporter of hydrogen to Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

Various hydrogen-powered vehicles have been developed and demonstrated under projects supported by the Government of India. These include 6 cell buses by Tata Motors Ltd., 50 hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) buses in Delhi by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. in collaboration with the Govt. of NCT of Delhi, and 2 hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine buses (by IIT Delhi in collaboration with Mahindra & Mahindra).

Hydrogen holds immense potential as an energy source with multifaceted applications. It can serve as a catalyst for revolutionising various sectors, from transportation and electricity generation to industrial processes and residential heating. Notably, its adoption could play a pivotal role in mitigating carbon emissions, a crucial step towards attaining a net-zero carbon footprint.

One of the distinctive advantages of hydrogen lies in its suitability for addressing the decarbonisation challenge in sectors that have proven resistant to conventional emission-reduction methods. By harnessing hydrogen, we can effectively tackle environmental concerns, enhancing local air quality while curbing the release of harmful greenhouse gases, CO2, particulates, and NOx, particularly when compared to internal combustion engines. Hydrogen emerges as a versatile and transportable energy carrier that can facilitate the generation of electricity, empower industries, and revolutionise transportation systems. Unlike fossil fuels, the combustion of hydrogen yields only water as a benign by-product, making it a highly appealing fuel source for the future.

In its purest form, hydrogen is an eco-friendly fuel, emitting only water when consumed in a fuel cell. Importantly, its production can draw from a wide array of domestic resources, including natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable sources like solar and wind energy. This versatility, combined with its exceptional energy content per unit of weight, positions hydrogen as a choice fuel for various applications, from powering rockets to generating electricity in spacecraft.

Although hydrogen’s current use as a fuel source remains limited, its potential for widespread adoption in the future is undeniable. As countries like India set ambitious goals for energy independence by 2047 and aspire to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, the focus on increasing the use of renewable energy across all economic sectors becomes paramount. In this context, green hydrogen emerges as a promising alternative, holding the key to facilitating India’s energy transition and meeting its sustainability targets.