Specialized Cylinders for Hydrogen Storage
- March 11, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
Specialized Cylinders for Hydrogen Storage
Subject: Science and tech
Section: Msc
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to convene a meeting with relevant stakeholders to discuss the development of specialized cylinders for green hydrogen storage.
Background and Challenges:
- Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers Concerns: Manufacturers of commercial vehicles, including heavy-duty and long-haul trucks, have raised concerns about challenges related to high-pressure storage cylinders in adopting green hydrogen as a sustainable fuel.
- Cost Challenges: High-cost factors associated with green hydrogen fuel cells
Types of Cylinders:
- Categorization: Gas cylinders are categorized into four types based on the materials used.
- Suitability for Hydrogen: Type 1 and Type 2 cylinders are suitable for storage, while Type 3 is preferred for storage and transportation. Type 4 cylinders are recommended for onboard storage.
- Pressure Differences: Hydrogen is stored at a much higher pressure compared to compressed natural gas (CNG). Hydrogen storage pressure ranges between 5,000-10,000 psi.
Meeting Discussions and Plans:
- MNRE aims to hold a meeting with industry stakeholders to develop Type 3 and Type 4 cylinders to address challenges related to high-pressure hydrogen storage.
- Carbon Fiber Reinforcement: Type 3 and Type 4 cylinders are reinforced with carbon fiber, making them lightweight and suitable for use in vehicles.
- Manufacturing Challenges: Manufacturing high-pressure Type 4 hydrogen cylinders involves a slightly more complex process compared to CNG cylinders, adding to production costs.
- Domestic Companies’ Plans: Companies like Confidence Petroleum India Limited, Time Technoplast Limited, INOX India Limited, and Indoruss Synergy Private Limited are planning to manufacture Type 4 cylinders for hydrogen storage.
- BHEL’s Initiatives: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is working on setting up a Center of Excellence for hydrogen storage cylinders and fuel cell technologies in collaboration with the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
- OEM Concerns: Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Volvo Eicher, Ashok Leyland, and Tata Motors flagged concerns about the high cost of hydrogen fuel cells.
- Bosch’s Developments: Bosch, a company that started volume production of fuel cell modules in 2023, is developing hydrogen combustion engines for retrofitting diesel buses and trucks.
Conclusion:
The meeting with MNRE and stakeholders aims to address challenges related to high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinders. The development of Type 3 and Type 4 cylinders is crucial for the adoption of green hydrogen as a sustainable fuel in the transport sector. Domestic companies and OEMs are actively involved in developing technologies and manufacturing cylinders for hydrogen storage, indicating a growing interest in hydrogen-powered vehicles for the clean energy transition.
National Green Hydrogen Mission
The National Green Hydrogen Mission in India is a significant initiative aimed at positioning the country as a global leader in the production, use, and export of green hydrogen.
Objectives:
- Development of Green Hydrogen Production Capacity:
- Target of producing at least 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) per annum of green hydrogen.
- Renewable Energy Capacity Addition:
- Addition of about 125 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity in the country by 2030.
- Total Investments:
- Expectation of over 8 lakh crores in total investments.
- Job Creation:
- Creation of over 6 lakh jobs by 2030.
- Reduction in Fossil Fuel Import:
- Saving over 1 lakh crore in fossil fuel imports.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction:
- Reduction in about 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Components of the Mission:
- SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme):
- Financial incentives for:
- Domestic manufacturing of electrolysers.
- Production of green hydrogen.
- Financial incentives for:
- Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP):
- Public-private partnership framework for research and development (R&D).
- Green Hydrogen Hubs:
- Identification and development of regions capable of supporting large-scale hydrogen production and utilization.
- Policy Framework:
- Development of an enabling policy framework to support the establishment of the green hydrogen ecosystem.
- Standards and Regulations:
- Framework for developing standards and regulations.
- Skill Development Programme:
- Coordinated skill development programme.
- Pilot Projects:
- Support for pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways.
India’s Current Status for Green Hydrogen:
- Initiatives:
- Commissioning of India’s first 99% pure green hydrogen plant by Oil India Limited in Jorhat, Assam.
- India’s first Green Hydrogen Blending operation in the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) Network by NTPC in Kawas, Surat.
- Approval for 5% blending of green hydrogen with PNG (to be scaled to 20%) by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).
- Collaboration between Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and The Green Billions (TGBL) for the waste-to-hydrogen project.
Benefits of the Mission:
- Export Opportunities:
- Creation of export opportunities for green hydrogen and its derivatives.
- Decarbonization:
- Decarbonization of industrial, mobility, and energy sectors.
- Reduced Dependence on Imported Fossil Fuels:
- Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock.
- Indigenous Manufacturing:
- Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
- Employment Opportunities:
- Creation of employment opportunities.
- Technological Development:
- Development of cutting-edge technologies.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission represents India’s commitment to sustainable energy, innovation, and economic growth while addressing the challenges of climate change and energy security. It aims to leverage green hydrogen as a key driver for a cleaner, greener, and more self-reliant energy future.
Blue Hydrogen
- Production Method:
- Natural gas is split into hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) through processes like Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or Auto Thermal Reforming (ATR).
- The CO2 produced is captured and stored, preventing its release into the atmosphere.
- Environmental Impact:
- Mitigates the environmental impact by capturing and storing CO2.
- Carbon Capture Method:
- Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) technology is used to capture and store the CO2.
Green Hydrogen
- Production Method:
- Hydrogen is produced by splitting water (H2O) through electrolysis.
- This process only yields hydrogen and oxygen.
- Power Source:
- The electrolysis process is powered by renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power.
- Environmental Impact:
- Cleanest option as it produces hydrogen from renewable energy sources without any CO2 by-product.
Grey Hydrogen
- Production Method:
- Similar to blue hydrogen, natural gas is used in SMR or ATR to produce hydrogen.
- However, unlike blue hydrogen, the CO2 produced is not captured and is released into the atmosphere.
- Environmental Impact:
- Leads to emissions of CO2, contributing to greenhouse gas levels.
Pink Hydrogen
- Production Method:
- Produced through electrolysis, similar to green hydrogen.
- The difference is that pink hydrogen is powered by nuclear energy.
- Power Source:
- Nuclear energy is used to supply the electricity needed for electrolysis.
- Environmental Impact:
- Produces hydrogen without direct CO2 emissions from the electrolysis process.
Yellow Hydrogen
- Production Method:
- Also produced through electrolysis like green and pink hydrogen.
- In this case, the electrolysis process is powered solely by solar energy.
- Power Source:
- Exclusively uses solar power for the electricity needed for electrolysis.
- Environmental Impact:
- Similar to green hydrogen, it produces hydrogen without direct CO2 emissions from the electrolysis process.