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Context
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved India’s Rs 20,000 cr National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
National Green Hydrogen Mission (NHM)
- Genesis:
- NGHM is a part of National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) which was announced by the finance minister in the Union Budget 2021-22.
- The Prime Minister of India also announced the National Hydrogen Mission on India’s 75th Independence Day.
- Objectives:
- To make India a global hub for the production and export of green hydrogen.
- To harness green hydrogen energy to fulfill India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- Nodal Ministry:
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation of the respective components.
- Key Components:
- The NGHM will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen.
- The Mission will also support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways.
- An enabling policy framework will be developed to support establishment of the Green Hydrogen ecosystem.
- A public-private partnership framework for R&D will be facilitated under the Mission. R&D projects will be goal-oriented, time bound, and suitably scaled up to develop globally competitive technologies.
Significance/Intended outcomes of the NGHM by 2030
- RE Capacity Enhancement: Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum.
- An associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country
- Investment boost
- Employment generation
- Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports.
- GHG Emission Reduction: Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions and help government in achievement the commitments made at COP 26
What is Hydrogen?
- About:
- Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1.
- Hydrogen is the lightest element and the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, constituting roughly 75% of all normal matter.
- It is colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly combustible.
- Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel burned with oxygen. It can be used in fuel cells or internal combustion engines and as a fuel for spacecraft propulsion.
- Extraction of Hydrogen:
- Hydrogen exists in combination with other elements.
- Hence, for using it as a source of energy, it has to be extracted from naturally occurring compounds like water (which is a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom).
- The sources and processes by which hydrogen is derived are categorised by different colours.
Advantages of Green Hydrogen
- Creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives
- Decarbonisation of industrial, mobility and energy sectors
- Self Reliance: Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock
- Make in India, for India: Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities
- Creation of employment opportunities
- Development of cutting-edge technologies
Possible Challenges in harnessing Green Hydrogen
- Lack of fuel station infrastructure: India will need to compete with around 500 operational hydrogen stations in the world today which are mostly in Europe, followed by Japan and South Korea.
- Energy-intensive nature of Hydrogen generation process:
- The technology is in an infant stage and the energy requirement for splitting water or Methane is high. Besides, the whole process is costly at present.
- High R&D requirement for the newer technology for making the process cheap and operational and scalable.
- Multiplicity of regulatory authorities: Involvement of multiple Ministries and Departments causes red tape in government functioning.
- Risks associated with the transportation of hydrogen: Hydrogen in gaseous form is highly inflammable and difficult to transport, thereby making safety a primary concern.
Case Studies:
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Way Forward
- NHM will ensure integration of India’s clean energy supply chains with that of the world
- Inter Ministerial and departmental coordination necessary for the success of NHM
- NHM will ensure realization of the goal of making India carbon neutral and global hub of clean hydrogen energy and will have multiplier effects on the $5 trillion economy.
Source: IE
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