India’s green hydrogen review and perspon

As concerns over climate change grow and the challenges posed by greenhouse gas emissions become more evident, the global focus on adopting green, carbon-neutral technologies to drive decarbonization has intensified. India is also actively engaged in both public and private initiatives aimed at decarbonization. One of the major obstacles hindering global climate efforts is the difficulty in transitioning certain industries to low-carbon infrastructures. Hard-to-abate industries like oil refineries, cement, iron, steel, and mobility face significant hurdles in directly adopting electrification or renewable energy solutions. Consequently, there is a crucial need for a versatile fuel that not only meets the primary fuel requirements of these industries but also aligns with the environmentally friendly objectives of policies. Green hydrogen is expected to fulfill this need as a “green” primary fuel for these industries.
The technology behind green hydrogen relies on electrolysis a chemical process that separates hydrogen and oxygen in water using an electrical current. This electricity is sourced from renewable sources. The supply chain for green hydrogen encompasses production, storage, and transportation. Hydrogen can be stored in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms. Solid storage options include metal hydrides, complex hydrides,
chemical hydrides, and high surface area absorbents. Gaseous storage requires containers that can withstand high pressure (ranging from 100 to 700 bar), while liquid storage necessitates cryogenic temperatures or conversion into liquid organic hydrogen carriers. The transportation and local infrastructure vary based on the intended end-use sector.
Green hydrogen stands as a promising substitute for fossil fuels in achieving net-zero emission objectives, given its lack of greenhouse gas emissions upon combustion. However, the current adoption of green hydrogen in India remains limited to pilot and research projects due to high technology costs, concerns about potential sunk costs, and a lack of widespread public awareness. With the Indian government’s
implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, significant investments are anticipated in this sector, necessitating substantial funding for large-scale projects. In addition to hydrogen, the government has demonstrated a forward-looking focus on both green hydrogen and green ammonia. Currently, hydrogen production in India relies primarily on fossil fuels (gray hydrogen). However, a shift towards green hydrogen is anticipated, driven by technological advancements in electrolyzers (boosting energy efficiency), reductions in the costs of electrolyzers and renewable energy sources, and the development of the green hydrogen value chain bolstered by supportive policy and regulatory initiatives. This transition is expected to augment the proportion of green hydrogen in India’s overall hydrogen production.

source:

https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/1033081/adbi-wp1491.pdf