National Hydrogen Mission

What?

The idea of National Hydrogen Mission was first mooted in the Budget 2021, putting an effort to tap green energy sources for manufacturing hydrogen. PM's announcement on 15th August 2021 takes this proposal forward for the launch of NHM to enable generation of hydrogen from renewable power sources.

National Hydrogen Mission Launched. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/from-ioc-to-reliance-indias-hydrogen-push-gains-traction-7454869/

Types?

Depending on the method of extraction it is classified as

1. Grey Hydrogen: According to World Energy Council (WEC), As of 2019, 96% of hydrogen is being extracted from fossil fuels via carbon intensive processes. Thus hydrogen obtained by this process releases a lot of carbon dioxide and called grey hydrogen.
2. Blue Hydrogen: This is also being extracted via same processes like grey hydrogen but the only difference is that carbon emissions are being sequestered (captured and stored).
3. Green Hydrogen: This is what government is looking at under National Hydrogen Mission. Green hydrogen is released via electrolysis of energy sources like renewable. This process though does give no rise to carbon emissions, is expensive and not commercially viable yet.

Why?

1. The enthusiasm about hydrogen has a simple reason: "whether it's used in a fuel cell or burnt to create heat, whenever hydrogen replaces fossil fuels, it slows global warming" - had said Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan (the longest serving Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas in the history of independent India).
2. The added advantages of hydrogen apart from it's use in transportation is that it can be used as a decarbonising agent for industries like chemical, fertilizer, refinery, iron, steel, energy, power etc.
3. It is the most abundant element in the universe.
4. The WEC said that combusting 1 kilo of hydrogen releases 3 times more energy than 1 kilo of gasoline burnt and produces only water. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously as log as hydrogen and oxygen are supplied.

Steps and initiatives taken by India

We are working on a pilot project on blue hydrogen, Hydrogen CNG and green hydrogen. We are blending hydrogen with CNG to use as transportation fuel as well as industrial input to refineries.

NTPC REL invites bids for India's 1st green hydrogen fueling station in Ladakh. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/ntpc-rel-invites-bids-for-indias-first-green-hydrogen-fuelling-station-in-ladakh/article35609415.ece

IOC to build India's 1st green hydrogen plant at Mathura refinery. https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/ioc-to-build-india-s-first-green-hydrogen-plant-at-mathura-refinery-121072000581_1.html

In 2020, Delhi became 1st city in India to operate buses via HCNG. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/trial-run-50-buses-using-fuel-greener-than-cng-rolled-out/articleshow/78776862.cms

India gets first electrolyser unit in Bengaluru. https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/boost-for-hydrogen-mission-india-gets-first-electrolyser-unit-in-bengaluru-121082400652_1.html