India's Hydrogen Energy Landscape: A Sustainable Future

India's exploration of hydrogen energy is central to its goals of sustainable development, energy security, and decarbonization.

The "India Country Status Report on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells" from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) highlights the nation's efforts in production, storage, transportation, and utilization of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier.

Context and Importance f Hydrogen

India's reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to high CO2 emissions and dependency on imports, underscores the need for alternative energy sources. Hydrogen emerges as a promising solution due to its abundance, high energy density, and potential to decarbonize various sectors. The government envisions hydrogen as a cornerstone for addressing energy security and climate goals.

Hydrogen Production in India

India primarily produces hydrogen using natural gas and as a byproduct in refineries and chlor-alkali industries. However, these methods are carbon-intensive. To address this, efforts are underway to adopt cleaner production techniques, including:

• Green Hydrogen: Electrolysis powered by renewable energy.

• Biomass Gasification: Converting organic matter to hydrogen-rich gases.

• Thermochemical Water Splitting: Advanced methods being researched by institutions like BARC.

The country is also exploring local feedstockbased production to reduce import dependency and associated emissions.

Applications and Utilization

Hydrogen's versatility allows its application across multiple sectors:

• Transportation: Plans include introducing hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVS), with an emphasis on green hydrogen to power fleets of buses, cars, and two-wheelers.