Green Hydrogen Production

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• Researchers have uncovered new insights into proton adsorption on catalyst surfaces, paving the way for more efficient electrocatalysts for green hydrogen production.

What is hydrogen?

• Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. 
• Hydrogen is the lightest element and the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, constituting roughly 75% of all normal matter.
• It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly combustible gas.

What is Green Hydrogen?

• Green Hydrogen: The hydrogen produced via electrolysis, the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind, is known as Green hydrogen.
• MNRE defines Green Hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission (i.e., including water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying and compression of hydrogen) of not more than 2 kg CO2 equivalent / kg H2.
• Gujarat’s Kandla port is the first in India to have an operational Green Hydrogen plant using indigenous Electrolysers.

Challenges

• Risks associated with the transportation: Hydrogen in gaseous form is highly inflammable and difficult to transport, thereby making safety a primary concern.
• High Production Costs: The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and electrolyzer costs are major factors driving up the overall production costs.
• Disparity in Production Costs: A substantial disparity between green hydrogen production costs ($5.30- $6.70 per kg) and traditional grey/blue hydrogen production costs ($1.9-$2.4 per kg).
• Technological Readiness: The adoption rates and risk factors associated with futuristic technologies pose challenges for financing and scaling up production.

National Green Hydrogen Mission – The mission was launched in 2023 with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores. – It aims to make India a Global Hub for production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. – The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will be responsible for overall coordination and implementation of the Mission. – Under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT), two distinct financial incentive mechanisms – targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and production of Green Hydrogen – will be provided under the Mission.

Source: PIB