In a move to bring hydrogen fuel into India’s mainstream energy matrix while utilizing the agrarian strengths of the country, IndianOil (IOCL) has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc). An MoU was signed between the two entities to develop and demonstrate biomass gasification-based hydrogen generation technology.
Biomass gasification is a technology that uses a controlled process involving heat, steam, and oxygen to convert biomass to hydrogen and other products, without combustion. The process may help produce fuel cell grade hydrogen at an affordable price and accelerate IndianOil’s journey towards a sustainable hydrogen economy.
Hydrogen based fuel cell technology is a sustainable and ultimate green mobility solution for India. Fuel cell electric vehicles are powered by hydrogen and only emit pure water as tailpipe emissions.
The technology will be scaled-up and demonstrated at IndianOil’s R&D Centre at Faridabad. The Hydrogen generated from the plant will be used in fuel cell buses as part of the Corporation’s larger aspiration to usher in hydrogen economy in the country. IndianOil has also recently launched the trial of 50 HCNG fueled buses in Delhi.
Welcoming the initiative, Chairman, IndianOil Mr. S M Vaidya, said that this collaboration will be a step forward in the generation of green hydrogen and strengthen the promising foray made by IndianOil’s R&D teams in the hydrogen economy landscape. Hydrogen will emerge as the ultimate solution for a sustainable energy future, he added.
In India Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has been supporting a broad based Research Development and Demonstration (R&D) programme on Hydrogen Energy and Fuel. Projects are supported in industrial, academic and research institutions to address challenges in production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources, its safe and efficient storage, and its utilization for energy an transport applications through combustion or fuel cells.
With respect to transportation, major work has been supported to Banaras Hindu University, IIT Delhi, and Mahindra & Mahindra. This has resulted in development and demonstration of internal combustion engines, two wheelers, three wheelers, and mini buses that run on hydrogen fuel. Two hydrogen refuelling stations have been established (one each at Indian Oil R&D Centre, Faridabad and National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram).
