Context:
According to a study by Climate Risk Horizons (CRH), the adoption of green hydrogen in India could exacerbate pollution if proper measures are not implemented.
About Green Hydrogen:
- Process: Electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources.
- Uses –
- Chemical industry: Manufacturing ammonia and fertilisers.
- Petrochemical industry: Production of petroleum products.
- Used in the steel industry (Green Steel)
Electrolysis is the process of splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen by application of electrical energy, and the hydrogen produced can be used as a clean and renewable fuel.
- Electrolyser –
- An electrolyser is a device capable of splitting water molecules into their constituent Oxygen (O2) and Hydrogen (H2) atoms.
- Types of Electrolysers:
- Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC)
- Alkaline electrolyser
- Proton exchange membrane (PEM)
- Advantages of Hydrogen: High calorific value, alternative to coke and coal in steel production, fuel cells in electric vehicles etc.
- Constraints in using hydrogen: High cost of electrolyser technology, high price of green hydrogen, difficult to transport and store etc.
Green Steel is the manufacturing of steel without the use of fossil fuels by using low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen, coal gasification, or electricity.
National Green Hydrogen Mission
- Aim: To provide a comprehensive action plan for establishing a Green Hydrogen ecosystem
- Objective: Catalysing a systemic response to the opportunities and challenges of this sunrise sector.
- Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
Guidelines implemented by the Ministry
- Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT): To provide incentives for targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and for production of Green Hydrogen.
- Pilot projects: In emerging end-use sectors, supporting large scale production or utilization of Hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.
- Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP): Public-Private Partnership framework for R&D.
- Skill Development programme
Mission Components
Mission Governance Framework
- Empowered Group: Chaired by Cabinet Secretary
- Advisory Group: Chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor
- Mission Secretariat: Headquartered in MNRE
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to green hydrogen, Consider the following statements :
1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.
2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation.
3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (c)
