The energy world is abuzz with talk of green hydrogen. Some Hail it as the future fuel—destined for economic significance. Sceptics, however, view it as a mere ploy by the fossil fuel industry. Regardless of this viewpoint, one thing is for certain: green Hydrogen is the new hot topic.
As climate change tightens its grip, the urgency for clean energy solutions is intensifying. A multitude of ideas are vying for attention, all aiming to achieve net-zero goals. Among these contenders, green hydrogen fuel is gaining traction. Before diving deeper, let’s revisit the basic chemistry of hydrogen.
Hydrogen: A Powerhouse
Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundantly found chemical element on the planet. It is light, can be stored, and does not generate pollutant emissions by itself, making it a perfect candidate as a sustainable fuel.
Industrialists use hydrogen in industries and metallurgy, but it’s not found in nature in its pure form. Three methods produce hydrogen: Thermal processes use natural gas or coal but create a lot of pollution. Photolysis, which splits molecules with light, is still being researched for sustainability. Electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity in an electrolyzer. This method emits no greenhouse gases if clean energy powers it.
This is where green hydrogen enters the scene. Green hydrogen is produced through the process of electrolysis, which is powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric power, ensuring the energy used in the process is environmentally friendly. This fuel has immense promise for mitigating climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. The green hydrogen, so produced, is captured and stored in a compressed manner for use in fuel cells.
With the automotive industry and various governments pledging not just emission reduction but complete net-zero goals, green hydrogen is being extensively researched as a potential game-changer for the high-emitting transportation sector.
How do hydrogen cars work?
Hydrogen gas (H2) is stored in high-pressure tanks in the vehicle. These tanks are specially designed to store hydrogen in gaseous form. This is to prevent hydrogen and oxygen from reacting out of control during the operation of a fuel cell car due to its flammable nature.
The hydrogen is fed into a fuel cell stack, which consists of multiple individual fuel cells. Each fuel cell contains an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane.
In very simple terms, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) work in a similar way to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). For an electric car powered by a lithium-ion battery, electrical energy is simply stored in the battery after charging on the electrical grid. Herein lies the difference from the hydrogen vehicle. Its electric energy is supplied by the fuel cell. Pressurised hydrogen is stored in special tanks onboard the vehicle. The gas (H2), along with dioxygen (O2) from the surrounding air, are supplied to the fuel cell. These two gases then undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the cell, in turn producing electricity, heat, and water vapour (H2O), which is released in the form of a gas via a small tube located underneath the vehicle.
Although various governments, industries, and transportation organisations around the world want to accelerate their clean energy transitions and reach their net-zero goals, they struggle to have a practical pathway to successfully integrate clean hydrogen into their infrastructure and transportation systems.
Green cars on Indian roads?
India is making a strategic shift towards clean energy in transportation. The government’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, with a budget of `19,744 crore ($2.3 billion) aims to acheive this by 2030. This ambitious plan includes producing five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2030. A significant portion of the funding, $0.15 billion, is allocated for pilot projects, with an additional $0.05 billion dedicated to research and development.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is also taking concrete steps. They have issued guidelines for pilot projects using green hydrogen in the transport sector, with a budget of 496 crore allocated until 2025–26. This demonstrates a commitment to exploring the feasibility of this technology.
However, challenges remain. In 2022, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari promoted the concept of green hydrogen cars by arriving at Parliament in a hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai. Whether the technology is scalable at this point is the question. Affordability is another major concern. An Indian car company estimates the cost of a green car to be a staggering 50–60 lakh, putting it out of reach for most consumers.
This is one of the main reasons why batteryelectric vehicles are currently seen as a strong contender in the race for clean transportation solutions. However, green hydrogen offers a distinct advantage in certain applications, particularly for long-haul transportation and heavy-duty vehicles where battery range limitations pose a challenge. Is that why Elon Musk makes a fuss about it, as it’s a competition for his battery-powered vehicle?!
The entire lifecycle of green hydrogen, from production to utilisation has minimal environmental impact.