Energetica India Magazine January-February 2021

35 energetica INDIA- Jan-Feb_2021 HYDROGEN/ FUEL CELLS tion with the Indian Oil (IOCL) and ISRO. Hyundai, India has sought permission to launch a fuel- cell SUV in India by 2021. Soon we might also see hydrogen-powered trucks in India. IOCL has initiated a project for the utilization of hydrogen-en- riched compressed natural gas (H-CNG) in automobiles. IOCL has developed a procedure for blending hydrogen with CNG. It is expected to lower down the emissions and be cost-effective. NITI Aayog has recommended the use of H-CNG, using the existing CNG infrastructure in Delhi. It has been recommend- ed that H-CNG be notified as an automotive fuel. The Banaras Hindu University has modified a commercially available mo - torcycle and a 3 wheeler to operate on hydrogen as a fuel. Two hydrogen refuelling stations have also been set up at IOCL R&D Centre, Faridabad, and at National Institute of So- lar Energy, Gurugram. Greenfuel Energy Solutions is one of the leading manufactur- ers of components and system solutions providers for Alter- native Gas Fuel Systems in the automotive industry in India. It is also working with two of the companies in the field of the H-CNG and has manufactured prototype products that can withstand up to 700 bars (internationally) and 350 bars for Indian markets. Hydrogen fuel can be produced from methane or by the elec- trolysis of water. 95% of the hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, which can also be called Blue Hydrogen. Experts have brought out that production from fossil fuel may lead to CO2 and carbon monoxide emissions which are a negative aspect to consider it clean fuel. Hydrolysis is the most viable method in extracting hydrogen from water. Hydrogen produced by this methodology is also known as Green Hydrogen. This gives us a unique chance of making hydrogen part of our clean and green future, which the world should not overlook. The Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R) in Japan is the world’s largest facility for producing hydrogen fuel. However, during Hydrolysis, the total percentage of hydrogen produced is far less than the energy used. There can be Grey, Pink, and Yellow hydrogen based on the methodology of production of the Hydrogen. The biggest challenge faced by the automobile companies is; how to store the hydrogen required for a driving range of >300 kms within the constraints of weight. Cost-effective ways to transport Hydrogen are by using pipelines, gas cylinders, and liquid tankers. It is advisable to start the use of hydrogen fuel cells in commercial vehicles due to the requirement of higher onboard space to store the fuel cell. Presently, India is heavily dependent on oil imports as India is the third-largest consumer of oil in the world. The government of India is pursuing a roadmap to be the refining hub of the world. India’s dependence on oil imports is expected to grow further. To overcome this India is working towards increased usage of Hydrogen based fuel cells due to its, high energy density, better combustion characteristics, non-polluting nature, etc. This will help India to reduce dependence on oil imports and can take India towards energy security as Hydrogen can be produced from a wide variety of energy sources. The use of hydrogen can reduce CO2 emissions significant - ly, enabling reduced emissions and reducing climate change threats. It can even decarbonise the sectors where it is diffi - cult to reduce emissions. This endeavour of the government of India to achieve energy security by moving towards a hy- drogen economy can be a game- changer for India, and will surely make India Atmanirbhar in the field of energy solutions.