Changing The Power Dynamic

A whole global movement is afoot to bring down carbon emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels such as coal, T natural gas, petrol and diesel. Green hydrogen is a key element here. A few Indian private sector behemoths have entered the fray, but the technological acumen has to be onboarded through tie-ups with global firms. Biofuels are another critical component in this game. A coherent, unambiguous policy would help expand their share in our energy basket-for one, by upping biofuel offtake by refineries. At the same time, India has to rapidly create an ecosystem for battery technology as it presses the pedal on electric mobility

- M.G. ARUN

FUELLING INDIA'S TOMORROW

THE EFFORT TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS BY REDUCING THE VOLUME OF FOSSIL FUELS RELIES ON GREEN HYDROGEN BECOMING A CRUCIAL SOURCE OF CLEAN POWER

The worldwide effort to cut down carbon emissions has acquired urgency in recent years. At the centre of the plan is reducing the use of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, petrol and diesel in industry and daily life. Green hydrogen featured in many an emission-reduction pledge at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, the grand plan being to decarbonise heavy industry, freight, shipping and aviation.

Hydrogen has many uses-in fuel cells to generate electricity, in petroleum refining and in fertiliser production. It is also fast emerging as a transportation fuel. Producing hydrogen involves splitting water into its basic components-hydrogen and oxygen-through electrolysis. When this process is conducted using alternative sources of energy such as wind or solar power, the product is called "green hydrogen" as opposed to "grey hydrogen", if the power used to produce it is conventional fuel like coal.

WHY IT IS A GAME CHANGER