AIR’S Spotlight- Research, Development & Innovation to Accelerate Adoption of Green Hydrogen | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• Green Hydrogen refers to environmentally friendly hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind energy, with water and water vapor being the only by-products.
• The production of green hydrogen involves electrolyzing water, requiring water, a large electrolyzer, and ample electricity supply.
• When electricity is sourced from renewables like wind, solar, or hydro, the resulting hydrogen is considered green, with carbon emissions limited to those from the generation infrastructure.

Significance of Green Hydrogen

• Green hydrogen energy is crucial for India to fulfill its Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Targets and ensure regional and national energy security, access, and availability.
• It serves as a vital energy storage solution, particularly for addressing intermittencies in renewable energy sources in the future.
• In terms of mobility, green hydrogen finds applications in long-distance transportation, including urban freight movement, passenger transport via railways, large ships, buses, and trucks.

Applications of Green Hydrogen:

• Green chemicals such as ammonia and methanol can be directly utilized in various sectors, including fertilizers, mobility, power generation, chemicals, and shipping.
• Blending green hydrogen up to 10% in City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks can facilitate widespread acceptance.

Benefits

• As a clean-burning molecule, green hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize numerous sectors, including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.
• It enables the utilization of renewable energy that would otherwise go to waste or be unusable by the grid, thus serving as a valuable energy storage solution.

Policy Challenges

• One of the primary hurdles encountered by the industry in commercially utilizing hydrogen is the economic viability of extracting green or blue hydrogen.
• Technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and hydrogen fuel cell technology, employed in hydrogen production and utilization, are still in their infancy and come with high costs, consequently inflating hydrogen production expenses.
• The post-completion maintenance costs for fuel cells can also be significant.
• The commercial deployment of hydrogen as a fuel and in industries necessitates substantial investment in R&D for technology and infrastructure development related to production, storage, transportation, and demand generation for hydrogen.

Measures Needed

• India stands at a critical juncture where strategic investments in R&D, capacity enhancement, supportive legislation, and demand creation initiatives can uniquely position it to seize opportunities. Such endeavors could propel India to become a favored nation by exporting hydrogen to neighboring countries and beyond.
• Proactive collaboration between industry and the government is paramount to establish a hydrogen economy in India.
• This collaboration can facilitate the import of cutting-edge hydrogen technology, equipment, and expertise, potentially fostering a homegrown hydrogen supply chain.
• Prioritizing national hydrogen demonstration projects can spotlight innovations aimed at reducing hydrogen costs domestically.
• A robust policy framework akin to the one that spurred the country's solar revolution could drive increased production and demand for this green fuel.
• The Government of India should contemplate establishing a multi-agency mission to foster collaboration between multiple ministries, private industry, and academia to scale up hydrogen deployment across sectors.
• Establishing clear mid-term and long-term targets can instill confidence in the private sector to invest in a new energy source.
• Tax incentives enjoyed by solar and wind energy sectors should be extended to all participants in the green hydrogen ecosystem.
• In the short term, capping the price of hydrogen generated through steam methane reforming could be considered.
• Incentivizing hydrogen generation from biomass could enhance farmer incomes and promote sustainable practices.
• India should intensify international collaborations to facilitate technology and resource transfer related to hydrogen.
• Leveraging low solar prices alongside pragmatic policies can position India as a leader in driving the global hydrogen economy.

Conclusion

• Identifying key long-term goals and the steps required to achieve them is imperative.
• Developing policies, infrastructure, and skills can foster wider acceptance, reduce perceived risks, boost confidence, attract investments, and lower costs.
• Overcoming challenges related to scaling up, cost reduction, increased adoption, and sustainable growth of hydrogen-based technologies is paramount.
• The government can play a crucial role by establishing a long-term policy framework to instill confidence in private investments, create market demand through policy interventions, develop standards and regulations conducive to growth, and provide enhanced R&D support.
• Green hydrogen stands out as one of the most promising fuels in the quest to reduce carbon emissions.
• Green hydrogen energy is indispensable for India to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions and ensure regional and national energy security, access, and availability. Hydrogen can serve as a vital energy storage solution to address intermittencies in renewable energy sources in the future.