Green Hydrogen... Vinit Vartak ©
Hydrogen is found in the very first column of the periodic table. Hydrogen, one of the lightest elements in the universe, is not found alone in the universe. But it is available in countless forms in the world. The simplest form we have in front of us is 'water'. Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom combine to form water, which covers 71% of the earth's surface. We have learned this in our school life. But what is not taught in school is that water is created when hydrogen is burned as fuel or when it chemically combines with oxygen. Energy is released in this process.
2H2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2H2O (g) + energy
Although we have learned this first and simplest chemical equation, we were hesitant to use it until now. If only hydrogen is burned in air, water is produced. This process does not involve any combination with carbon. We know that most of the pollution on Earth is related to carbon. As the fuels available today are carbon bound, they emit carbon compounds after burning, thus adding to the pollution. Hydrogen is now coming forward to reduce this. Because as mentioned above, hydrogen does not in any way partner with the carbon atom in providing energy. Rather it creates water. which we need.
Now you have realized that we have a continuous source of energy available to us. We can separate hydrogen from water. When it burns, water is formed again.We continue to generate fuel source from fuel and get energy from it. It does not create any kind of pollution. Because hydrogen and carbon don't like each other. Now let us think that why we are burning petrol and diesel on earth for so many years when it is so easy. So the biggest problem in all the above processes is to separate the hydrogen. Hydrogen comes in many forms in nature, one is by burning fuel (any fossil fuel). Second is from methane and other gases and third is electrolysis of water.
Now you must have noticed that we can get hydrogen in many ways. It is named after the way in which it is formed. Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels is called gray hydrogen, while that produced from coal is called gray or black hydrogen. It is formed from gases called blue hydrogen. So the most important thing is that the hydrogen which does not emit carbon elements in any way during its production is called 'green hydrogen'. According to the formula written above, we need energy to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water again (electrolysis of water). The biggest problem with using hydrogen as a fuel so far is that the cost of producing hydrogen is around 70%-80%. Hence, hydrogen was becoming more expensive than other fuels. Along with that, storage of hydrogen as a fuel was a major problem. There were many difficulties in transporting and using hydrogen. But with technological advancements in the last few decades, we have overcome almost all of these difficulties.
We can use hydrogen by making some changes in our existing engines. Internal combustion engines can use hydrogen as fuel. At the same time, using fuel cells, we can connect our current vehicles to hydrogen on electric power. That is why hydrogen will suddenly appear on the surface of the universe in the near future. Green hydrogen has been added to it. We know that we have now shifted to renewable energy. Solar, Windmill, Dam (Hydro Power Plant) and Nuclear (Clean Energy). If we use the energy produced from this source to produce hydrogen by the method (electrolysis of water), the hydrogen produced will be produced entirely without the use of carbon atoms in any way. If we use this hydrogen as fuel, we will only produce water from it. Overall, we have started moving towards 0% carbon emissions. It will have a green hydrogen game changer.
India has set a target of 0% carbon emissions by 2070. Green hydrogen is going to play the lion's share in doing this. India's green hydrogen requirement by 2050 alone is 23 MT. Along with this, there will be a need for green hydrogen on a large scale throughout the world. On 15 August 2021, the Prime Minister of India announced India's 'National Hydrogen Mission' while speaking from the Red Fort. In a year after that, leading industries in India have started taking steps on this. Reliance Industries on one hand announced the 1-1-1 mission. Achieving 1 kg of green hydrogen at 1 dollar in 1 decade. For this, Reliance has started investing Rs 60,000 crore. Adani Group has made it clear that it will invest US$ 5000 crore in green hydrogen in the next decade. Indian Oil, Tata Steel, Indian Railways, HPCL, GAIL (GAIL), Larsen & Toubro, NTPC, J.S.W., many well-known companies in India have ventured into it. Green hydrogen is the reason why all these companies are getting into this. According to estimates, its market in India alone is going to be a huge 25 to 30 billion US dollars in the next 20 years.
Green hydrogen is not only limited to cars but every company and business associated with hydrocarbons is going to turn to green hydrogen in the coming time. Steel companies like Tata are now developing technology to make steel using green hydrogen. That's why Indian entrepreneurs have recognized the steps of the coming times and started investing in this sector on a large scale. Note that these things may seem impossible today. In 5-10 years they will be a part of our life. India is emerging as a leading country in the field of green hydrogen like solar energy. There is no need to tell wise people where job and career opportunities are going to be available if they observe the changing conditions. If you invest this from now, the return on investment will be many times more than you or we think. That is why green hydrogen is going to be the biggest fuel source to replace petrol-diesel in the coming years.
Jai Hind!!!
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