India’s maiden project of blending hydrogen

India’s maiden project of blending hydrogen

Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-III: Energy

In news: Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has commenced India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into natural gas system at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 

• This project is to establish the techno-commercial feasibility of blending hydrogen in the CGD network
• Marks the stepping stone of India’s journey towards a hydrogen-based and carbon-neutral future.

• This grey hydrogen would subsequently be replaced by green hydrogen. 
• Help in creation of a robust standard and regulatory framework in India to cover the aspects of injecting hydrogen into natural gas

This is in line with the growth of a gas-based economy in India and with India’s vision of a greener and cleaner environment. As our country is moving forward with ambitious goal of achieving a carbon-neutral and self-reliant future, this project is a significant step in that direction.

Note:

Zero-emission hydrogen is gaining momentum around the world and depending on the source, the hydrogen can be classified into green, blue and grey. 

Green hydrogen

• The hydrogen that is obtained by splitting water by electrolysis using electricity from renewable energy sources like solar and wind. 
• The process helps in the production of only oxygen and hydrogen. 
• The hydrogen is used and oxygen is vented into the atmosphere with no negative impact. 
• Read more here

Blue hydrogen

• Produced from natural gas with a process of steam methane reforming, where natural gas is mixed with very hot steam and a catalyst. 
• A chemical reaction occurs creating hydrogen and carbon monoxide. 
• Water is added to that mixture, turning the carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and more hydrogen. 
• If the carbon dioxide emissions are then captured and stored underground, the process is considered carbon-neutral, and the resulting hydrogen is called blue hydrogen. 

Grey hydrogen

• Made from natural gas reforming like blue hydrogen, but without any efforts to capture carbon dioxide by-products.

What is Hydrogen Blending?

• Hydrogen energy is a viable solution for reducing society’s dependence on fossil fuels and decarbonizing a number of energy sectors. 
• One of the measure to phase hydrogen into the energy sector is though natural gas/hydrogen (NG/H2) blending. 
• As the name would suggest, NG/H2 blending integrates concentrations of hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines in order to reduce the carbon intensity of the methane. 
• This blending carries the hydrogen and natural gas mix to the intended location.
• The blending of natural gas and hydrogen is currently in its early stages of development.

News Source: PIB