First Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus | 28 Sep 2023

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas flagged off the country's first Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus in New Delhi, marking a revolutionary step in the transition to clean energy.

What is a Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell?

• About:
  • Green Hydrogen Fuel Cells are a clean, reliable, quiet, and efficient source of high-quality electric power.
  • They use Green Hydrogen as a fuel to drive an electrochemical process that produces electricity, with water and heat as the only by-products.
• Green Hydrogen:
  • Green hydrogen is a type of hydrogen produced through a process called electrolysis, using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power.
    • It involves splitting water (H₂O) into its constituent elements, hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂), with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
• Fuel Cell:
  • A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy (in this case, hydrogen) into electrical energy.
    • It consists of two electrodes (anode and cathode) separated by an electrolyte.
• The Process of Generating Electricity:
  • Green hydrogen is supplied to the anode side of the fuel cell.
  • At the anode, hydrogen molecules release electrons and become positively charged hydrogen ions (protons).
    • Electrons flow from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit, generating an electric current.
  • Oxygen from the air is supplied to the cathode.
  • At the cathode, oxygen molecules combine with electrons and protons to produce water vapor (H₂O) as a byproduct.

• Advantages:
  • The only byproduct of green hydrogen fuel cells is water, making them a zero-emission energy source.
  • Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be refueled in a matter of minutes, similar to traditional vehicles.
• Challenges:
  • Currently, the production of green hydrogen can be expensive, but ongoing research aims to reduce costs.
  • The development of a hydrogen infrastructure, including production, storage, and distribution, is essential for widespread adoption.

What is the Significance of the Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus?

• The bus uses hydrogen and air to generate electricity, emitting only water as a by-product, making it an eco-friendly mode of transportation.
  • Hydrogen boasts three times the energy density of conventional fuels and zero harmful emissions, making it a cleaner and more efficient choice.
• Further Plans:
  • IndianOil plans to introduce 15 more hydrogen fuel cell buses in Delhi NCR by the end of 2023.
    • These buses will help gather performance data under Indian operating conditions, assessing efficiency and sustainability.

How Does Green Hydrogen Transform India's Energy Landscape?

• Hydrogen and biofuels will account for 25% of global incremental energy demand growth over the next two decades.
• India aims to become a global champion in the production and export of hydrogen and emerge as a hub for green hydrogen.
• The success of the Green Hydrogen Mission can shoot India from being a net importer of fossil energy to becoming a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy.
• Hydrogen is poised to be a game changer in India's ambitious quest to achieve Net-Zero emissions by the year 2070.

What are India's Initiatives to Promote Green Energy?

• Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME)
• International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• National Green Hydrogen Mission