The 1 MW Plant which can produce approximately 140 metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually has been developed through National Green Hydrogen Mission.

About Green Hydrogen

• Refers to hydrogen produced through electrolysis splitting water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity from renewable sources like solar, wind etc.

Applications of Green Hydrogen

• Industry:  Steel production (Replacing coking coal in blast furnaces), Refineries and fertiliser plants (Substitute for fossil fuel-based hydrogen in ammonia and methanol production) etc.
• Transport: Trucks, buses etc. using hydrogen fuel cells.
• Energy storage and Grid balancing: Used to generate electricity during peak demand or low renewable generation.

Challenges in green hydrogen adoption

• Economically viability: Current cost of producing green hydrogen ($4 to $6 per kg) is still high.
• Difficulty in Hydrogen Storage: Requires high-pressure tanks and cryogenic temperatures.
• Resource scarcity: Green hydrogen production requires up to 9 Liters water/kilogram of hydrogen.
• Energy Source: Electrolysis demands 48 kWh of electricity  per kg of hydrogen.

Way forward

• Reduce cost: By Reducing GST, Providing low-cost open-access electricity​ and green debt etc.
• Incentives: E.g. PLI scheme for green steel targeting export markets.
• Finance: India should invest $1 billion by 2030 to advance commercial technologies.
• Market Creation: Implement Green Hydrogen Purchase Obligations (GHPO) for few sectors