Leh journeys towards carbon neutrality with hydrogen bus project

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will be launching a Hydrogen fuel cell-based bus project in the union territory of Leh in collaboration with NTPC Ltd. The project is part of the government’s plan to make Ladakh the first Union Territory to run completely on renewable energy.

State-run power generator NTPC has agreed to work with MNRE in a meeting with experts on Hydrogen Mission to jointly launch the project to promote emission-free buses.

We are trying to set up a hydrogen mission. Hydrogen as a source of energy can decarbonise industries like steel, aviation etc. It can act as an energy carrier and can meet the demand for trains and transportation sector like cars, buses etc. We are leaving no stone unturned to analyse the situation and carrying out research and development in all the applicable and futuristic areas.

MNRE Secretary Anand Kumar at India Energy Forum – Renewable Energy Summit

MNRE Secretary Anand Kumar met with an Italian delegation in January 2020 to look for new opportunities for partnership and investments in potential projects which include fields like hydrogen, fuel cells etc. Anand Kumar also met a representative from International Energy Agency to talk about the potentials of promoting hydrogen as an energy carrier.

The Ministry already has plans in Leh and Ladakh for 23 gigawatts of mega solar and transmission projects and the phase-I of the project include setting up 2,500 MW Solar PV Capacity in Kargil and 5,000 MW in Leh district.

There is also a plan to set up a solar photo-voltaic power plant with a total of 7,500 MW capacity at an estimated cost of Rs 45,000 crore. This makes it the largest investment proposal for the newly announced union territory.

In the auto sector, Hyundai and Toyota have imported their hydrogen-powered vehicles to India. HMIL will import further units of the Hyundai Nexo that was displayed at the Auto Expo and run trials in Delhi, sharing the car with customers to get feedback. The company will conduct studies for the Nexo in India, but will need the government’s support on station infrastructure as unlike electric cars, a hydrogen vehicle cannot be charged at home.

[Source: Economictimes.Indiantimes.com]