Govt working on hydrogen energy development-MNRE

The government, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is in process of setting up targets for hydrogen energy development in the country.

According to Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi, secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy a committee of officials has been formed to set those specific targets to develop this source of energy.

Hydrogen energy development-MNRE

He said that the target will be set up under a hydrogen mission and outlines the quantifiable deliverables of the relatively new source of energy in the Indian sector. At present, the hydrogen is not included in India’s plan to develop 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022.

at an online event on the potential of hydrogen energy organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) he said that “As a part of a hydrogen mission, this committee would outline clearly quantifiable deliverables. It would be focused on creating volumes, addressing regulations, supporting demonstrations, and research and development.”

The committee will represent officials from various ministries. However, he didn’t mention when the targets will be declared but the ministry is currently focused on a medium to the long-term execution of the mission.

What you need to know about Fuel cell electric vehicles

“We also expect the cost of hydrogen-based energy will fall significantly over the next few years,” Chaturvedi said.

As per TERI the use of hydrogen in India can expand between three to ten times by 2050 if the target is set towards the carbon-neutral economy. We can see hydrogen usage mainly in fuel cells for electric vehicles.

In August, FTI Consulting and TERI had announced a policy and economic research partnership which focuses on hydrogen economy, carbon capture and renewable energy in India.

The partnership covers the policy and research initiatives for the development of a hydrogen-based economy in India, development of fuel-cell manufacturing and policy ecosystem, development of carbon capture systems and new and emerging areas in renewable energy.