Hydrogen Buses in Leh – In a first for India, state-owned power company NTPC is preparing to launch a trial run of intracity Hydrogen Buses in Leh. NTPC (previously National Thermal Power Corporation) is establishing a hydrogen fuelling station, a solar plant, and five fuel cell buses for use on Leh’s intracity routes in order to make Ladakh carbon-neutral.
The first hydrogen bus arrived in Leh on August 17, 2023, after a three-month process of field trials, roadworthiness tests, and other statutory procedures. This will be India’s first public-road deployment of hydrogen buses.
At 11,562 feet, the first-of-its-kind Green Hydrogen Mobility Project is co-located with a dedicated Solar plant of 1.7 MW for renewable power. The fuel cell buses in this project are designed to operate in sub-zero temperatures in rarefied atmospheres, which is typical of high altitude locales.
NTPC has pledged to achieving 60 GW of renewable energy generation by 2032, as well as being a prominent participant in Green Hydrogen Technology and Energy Storage. The PSU is pursuing many decarbonization efforts, including hydrogen blending, carbon capture, electric buses, and Smart NTPC Townships.
Hydrogen Buses in Leh
The Government of India has declared the Green Hydrogen Standard for India, which is a big step forward for the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The guideline, released earlier this month by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), establishes the emission criteria that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be designated as ‘Green,’ i.e., from renewable sources. Both electrolysis-based and biomass-based hydrogen production technologies are included in the definition.
Green hydrogen is defined by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as having a well-to-gate emission (including water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying, and hydrogen compression) of no more than 2 kg CO2 equivalent / kg H2.
The announcement states that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will develop a precise system for measuring, reporting, monitoring, on-site verification, and certification of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The announcement further states that the Ministry of Power’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will be the Nodal Authority for accreditation of agencies for monitoring, verification, and certification of Green Hydrogen production projects.
The Green Hydrogen Standard notice has provided much-needed clarification to India’s Green Hydrogen community. With this announcement, India becomes one of the world’s first governments to announce a definition of Green Hydrogen.
Add Comment