The Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPnG) has inaugurated a green hydrogen fuel cell bus from Kartavya Path, New Delhi. The minister emphasised that hydrogen is the fuel of the future and that it has tremendous potential to assist India in achieving its decarbonisation goals. By 2050, it is anticipated that global demand for hydrogen will rise by four to seven times, reaching 500 to 800 million tonnes. The minister emphasised the significance of new fuels like biofuels and hydrogen, which will account for 25 per cent of the increase in global energy consumption over the next 20 years. With the achievement of ‘One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency’ and with one of the largest synchronised grids in the world, the minister further highlighted that India will soon become the leader in both manufacturing and exporting of hydrogen, becoming the center for green hydrogen.
The introduction of the world’s first BS 6, stage II electrified flex fuel vehicle prototype includes the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain, providing increased ethanol utilisation alongside enhanced fuel efficiency. With the inaugural of first two hydrogen cell buses, it is anticipated that another 15 buses will begin operating on roads of Delhi NCR by the end of 2023. These 15 buses are expected to cover a total of 3 lakh kilometers to determine the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the entire value chain.
Indian Oil and Tata Motors have collaborated to develop domestic solutions for the country’s fuel cell and hydrogen infrastructure. The minister emphasised that if this initiative is successful, India could switch from being a net importer of fossil fuels to a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy soon.
