Green Hydrogen Is Critical to India’s Economic Development:NITI Aayog

RMI

• RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5° C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero carbon future for all.

Green Hydrogen

• It is produced through electrolysis using renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind or hydel power.
• Green hydrogen gas is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyzer that may be powered by electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
• The rapidly declining cost of renewable energy is one reason for the growing interest in green hydrogen.
• Green Hydrogen is one of the most popular and demanding fields in the current times and considered to be the next carrier of energy.
• India’s Green Hydrogen production  :India has just begun to generate green hydrogen with the objective of raising non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030. On April 20, India’s first 99.99% pure green hydrogen pilot plant was set up in eastern Assam’s Duliajan.

Why is India pursuing green hydrogen?

• Under the Paris Agreement of 2015, India is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 33-35% from the 2005 levels.
  • It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change with the goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. 
• 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. 
• India’s average annual energy import bill is more than $100 billion.
• 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.
• It will benefit India’s transportation sector (which contributes 1/3 of India’s greenhouse-gas emissions), iron and steel and chemical sectors.
• Hydrogen energy can provide impetus to India’s aim to decarbonise by 2050 and attain 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022.
• The energy in 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of hydrogen gas contains about the same as the energy in 1 gallon (6.2 pounds, 2.8 kilograms) of gasoline.

Other types of Hydrogen: 

Image Courtesy: WEF