GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Conservation-related issues.
Source: DTE
Context: Hydrogen generated at a facility in Pune will be utilized locally to help the city lower its emissions, and manage waste optimally.
- Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has collaborated with business management consultant The Green Billions (TGBL) to manage its waste and generate it into useable green hydrogen.
- The new facility will solve two major problems: Inefficient waste management and carbon emissions. Waste management is one of the prime issues in the country, which is blamed for generating the pollution in the surroundings.
- With this project, Pune city can reduce up to 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, over 3.8 million tonnes of waste would be diverted from the landfill/dumping site and more than 180,000 estimated households will be served directly.
About Green Hydrogen:
Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water by electrolysis using power from renewable energy sources.
How green hydrogen could help in meeting India’s Net-zero target?
- Replacement for fossil fuels.
- Hydrogen fuel cells: Hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs) produce heat and water as byproducts, eliminating the costs associated with handling and storing toxic materials like battery acid or diesel fuel.
- Energy storage
- Stored for a long period: The stored hydrogen can be used to produce electricity using fuel cells.
- Decarbonization of industries: green hydrogen can easily be converted to green ammonia. It, therefore, assumes vast applications for agriculture, fertilizer-producing industries and refineries, steel and heavy-duty transportation industry.
- Commercialization of Oxygen produced
- Reduced Dependence on Rare Minerals: Green Hydrogen holds the key to clean electric mobility that doesn’t depend on rare minerals.
Challenges associated:
- Economic feasibility
- Technological challenges: E.g., hydrogen storage due to its embrittlement of storage metals is a major issue in creating a sustainable supply chain.
- Investments needed
- Consumer adoption
India’s stand on renewable energy:
India is one of the few countries that has kept up its Paris Agreement (21st Conference of Parties or COP21 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) commitments, with an exponential increase in renewable energy capacity.
Insta Links:
Mains Link:
- The national hydrogen policy is a step in the right direction to harness the potential of green hydrogen but removing production bottlenecks and incentivizing production can be a game-changer for the energy security of India. Comment.
