Context:
Recently, the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas flagged off the country’s first Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus in New Delhi, marking a revolutionary step in the transition to clean energy.
Relevance:
GS II: Government policies and Interventions
Dimensions of the Article:
- Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell: A Clean Energy Source
- Significance of Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus
- Transformation of India’s Energy Landscape with Green Hydrogen
Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell: A Clean Energy Source
- Green Hydrogen Fuel Cells offer a clean, dependable, silent, and efficient source of high-quality electricity.
- They operate using Green Hydrogen as a fuel, employing an electrochemical process that generates electricity, with water and heat as the sole by-products.
Green Hydrogen:
- Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, utilizing renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power.
- This process involves breaking down water (H2O) into its components, hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2), without emitting greenhouse gases.
Fuel Cell:
- A fuel cell is an electrochemical device converting chemical energy (hydrogen) into electrical energy.
- It consists of two electrodes (anode and cathode) separated by an electrolyte.
Advantages:
- Green hydrogen fuel cells are zero-emission, as their only byproduct is water.
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be refueled rapidly, similar to conventional vehicles.
Challenges:
- Currently, green hydrogen production can be costly, but ongoing research aims to reduce expenses.
- The establishment of a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure, encompassing production, storage, and distribution, is crucial for widespread adoption.
Significance of Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus:
- The bus utilizes hydrogen and air to produce electricity, releasing only water as a by-product, rendering it an environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
- Hydrogen boasts triple the energy density of conventional fuels and generates zero harmful emissions, making it a cleaner and more efficient option.
Future Plans:
- IndianOil intends to introduce an additional 15 hydrogen fuel cell buses in Delhi NCR by the close of 2023.
- These buses will assist in collecting performance data in Indian operating conditions, evaluating efficiency and sustainability.
Transformation of India’s Energy Landscape with Green Hydrogen:
- Hydrogen and biofuels are anticipated to contribute to 25% of the global incremental energy demand growth in the next two decades.
- India aspires to excel in hydrogen production and export, positioning itself as a green hydrogen hub.
- The success of the Green Hydrogen Mission can propel India from being a net importer of fossil energy to becoming a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy.
- Hydrogen stands to be a game-changer in India’s ambitious pursuit of achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070.
