Source: The Hindu
- Prelims: Current events of national and international importance, Environmental pollution and degradation(Paris Agreement, WEF)
- Mains GS Paper III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, WEF.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- At the World Economic Forum(WEF) in Davos, Switzerland,the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas said India will emerge as the leader of green hydrogen by taking advantage of the current energy crisis across the globe.
- His assertion came almost a month after Oil India Limited (OIL) commissioned India’s first 99% pure green hydrogen plant in eastern Assam’s Jorhat.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Hydrogen
It is one of the most abundant elements on earth for a cleaner alternative fuel option.
Type of hydrogen depend up on the process of its formation:
Green hydrogen:
- It is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) and has a lower carbon footprint.
- Electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.
- By Products : Water, Water Vapour.
Brown hydrogen:
It is produced using coal where the emissions are released to the air.
Grey hydrogen:
- It is produced from natural gas where the associated emissions are released to the air.
- It currently accounts for 95% of the total production in South Asia
Blue hydrogen:
It is produced from natural gas, where the emissions are captured using carbon capture and storage.
Advantages of hydrogen as a fuel:
- The intermittent nature of renewable energy, especially wind, leads to grid instability. Green hydrogen can be stored for long periods of time. The stored hydrogen can be used to produce electricity using fuel cells.
- Experts say that oxygen, produced as a byproduct (8kg of oxygen is produced per 1 kg of hydrogen), can also be monetised by using it for industrial and medical applications or for enriching the environment.
- Green hydrogen can drive India’s transition to clean energy, combat climate change.
- Under the Paris Climate Agreement, India pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its economy by 33-35% from 2005 levels by 2030.
- It will reduce import dependency on fossil fuels.
- The localisation of electrolyser production and the development of green hydrogen projects can create a new green technologies market in India worth $18-20 billion and thousands of jobs.
Why is India pursuing green hydrogen?
- At the 2021 Conference of Parties In Glasgow, India reiterated its commitment to move from a fossil and import dependent economy to a net zero economy by 2070.
- Under the Paris Agreement (a legally binding international treaty on climate change with the goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C compared to pre industrial levels) of 2015, India is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 33-35% from the 2005 levels.
- India’s average annual energy import bill is more than $100billion and the increased consumption of fossil fuel has made the country a high carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter, accounting for nearly 7% of the global CO2 burden.
- In order to become energy independent by 2047, the government stressed the need to introduce green hydrogen as an alternative fuel that can make India the global hub and a major exporter of hydrogen.
- The National Hydrogen Mission was launched with a view to cutting down carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable sources of energy.
Potential:
- India has a favourable geographic location and abundance of sunlight and wind for the production of green hydrogen.
- Green hydrogen technologies are being promoted in sectors where direct electrification isn’t feasible(Heavy duty, long-range transport, some industrial sectors and long-term storage in the power sector are some of these sectors).
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) produced a draft cabinet note to establish a hydrogen ecosystem in the country.
- India has just begun to generate green hydrogen with the objective of raising non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030.
- public sector OIL, eastern Assam’s Duliajan, set up India’s First 99% pure green hydrogen pilot plant in keeping with the goal of “making the country ready for the pilot scale production of hydrogen and its use in various applications.
- Research and development efforts are ongoing for the reduction in the cost of production,storage and the transportation” of hydrogen.
Challenges:
- Economic Sustainability: One of the biggest challenges faced by the industry for using hydrogen commercially is the economic sustainability of extracting green hydrogen.
- For transportation fuel cells, hydrogen must be cost-competitive with conventional fuels and technologies on a per-mile basis.
- High Costs and Lack of Supporting Infrastructure: Fuel cells which convert hydrogen fuel to usable energy for cars,are still expensive.
- The hydrogen station infrastructure needed to refuel hydrogen fuel cell cars is still widely underdeveloped.
Steps taken by the government:
- The Union Budget for 2021-22 has announced a National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) that will draw up a road map for using hydrogen as an energy source.
- Initiatives for Renewable Energy:
- Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
- International Solar Alliance.
- PM- KUSUM.
- National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy.
- Rooftop Solar Scheme.
| World Economic Forum(WEF)
● It is a Swiss nonprofit foundation established in 1971, based in Geneva, Switzerland. ● It is an international institution for public-private cooperation. ● It is Committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas. ● Major reports published by WEF are: National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM): ● It focuses on the generation of hydrogen from green power resources. ● To link India’s growing renewable capacity with the hydrogen economy. ● India’s ambitious goal of 175 GW by 2022 got an impetus in the 2021-22 budget which allocated Rs. 1500 crore for renewable energy development and NHM. ● The usage of hydrogen will not only help India in achieving its emission goals under the Paris Agreement, but will also reduce import dependency on fossil fuels. Paris Climate Agreement: ● It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. ● It was adopted by 196 countries at Conference of the Parties COP 21 in Paris in December 2015. ● To limit global warming to well below 2° Celsius, and preferably limit it to 1.5° Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. ● Its objective is to achieve the long-term temperature goal. Countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century. |
Way Forward
- Set a national target for green hydrogen and electrolyser capacity: A phased manufacturing programme should be used to build a vibrant hydrogen products export industry in India such as green steel (commercial hydrogen steel plant).
- Implement complementary solutions that create virtuous cycles: For example hydrogen infrastructure can be set up for refueling, heating and generating electricity at airports.
- Decentralized Production: Decentralized hydrogen production must be promoted through open access of renewable power to an electrolyser (which splits water to form H2 and O2 using electricity).
- Providing Finance: Policymakers must facilitate investments in early-stage piloting and the research and development needed to advance the technology for use in India.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
India has a favourable geographic location and abundance of sunlight and wind for the production of green hydrogen. In the light of this statement discuss the challenges faced and steps taken by the government for green hydrogen production. (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
