Topic: Infrastructure: Energy
Q5. How can green hydrogen contribute to the decarbonisation of India’s fertiliser and refining industries? What restricts its immediate adoption in these sectors? (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question
Green hydrogen has emerged as a key instrument for reducing emissions from hard-to-abate industries. Fertiliser plants and refineries provide ready demand, but commercial adoption remains constrained.
Key Demand of the question
The answer must explain how green hydrogen can reduce fossil-fuel use and process emissions in fertiliser and refining industries. It must separately identify the economic technological, economic and infrastructural barriers delaying adoption.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly introduce fertiliser plants and refineries as major consumers of fossil-fuel-based hydrogen and therefore suitable anchor sectors for green hydrogen.
Body
- Contribution to decarbonisation: Explain how substituting grey hydrogen with renewable-based hydrogen can reduce feedstock emissions, fossil-fuel dependence and the carbon intensity of industrial production.
- Restrictions on immediate adoption: Highlight the combined effect of high production costs, renewable-power requirements, resource constraints and inadequate storage or transportation infrastructure.
Conclusion
Conclude that assured demand, falling technology costs and coordinated infrastructure can enable these sectors to lead India’s transition towards low-carbon industry.
