Hydrogen is a key input to many industrial processes, including steel manufacturing, food processing, fertilisers and cosmetics. Yet, while hydrogen technologies have come a long way over the last several years, cost remains high, Dr S A Sherif - Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida and author of “Handbook of Hydrogen Energy,” has said.
Participating in the second edition of Dialogues on Multi-fuel Mobility for India - exploring and expanding on the feasibility of options like methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, biofuels etc., organised by the Centre for Auto Policy & Research (CAPR), along with Mobility Outlook, Sherif said the US Department of Energy along with national laboratories and engaging other stakeholders, is working to achieve 80% reduction in the cost of clean hydrogen within this decade. He said the medium and heavy-duty vehicles currently account for 24% of greenhouse gas emissions from the US transportation sector and present unique challenges to decarbonisation and, therefore, require a portfolio of clean technologies.
Dr L M Das, Former Professor, IIT- Delhi, Member of Advisory Board of International Association of Hydrogen Energy and Member CAPR, said globally, India ranks third in CO2 emissions from the transport sector. Despite several issues with hydrogen as fuel, like the presence of hot particles in spark plugs and combustion cylinders, and residual particulate matter, it is safer than gasoline as an automotive fuel, as, in the event of a fire accident, hydrogen escapes quickly and dissolves in the atmosphere, preventing major fire.
Das said optimal and meaningful integration of government, automobile and energy industries, academia, research institutes to build appropriate infrastructure is needed. In addition, there should be coordination amongst government, feedstock suppliers, producers, pipeline and tube trailers, distributors, hydrogen stations and storage companies. These initiatives will help produce, transport, store, distribute, deliver hydrogen, installation of green hydrogen production facilities and fuel stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Arikapudi Suresh, General Manager, Advanced Technology, Tata Motors, Engineering Research Centre, said many companies have begun working on a small scale on hydrogen. With overall momentum gaining, the changes at the policy level will augment more resources. However, it is in the nascent stage, and the industry awaits policy trigger from the government to enable the journey.
On the gaps in implementing hydrogen as an alternate fuel option for the automotive industry, Sherif said the stigma attached to hydrogen as unsafe and bad publicity hamper its prospects. On the contrary, it is safe; besides, it will be cost-competitive considering the overall cost, on account of the damages created by the fossil fuel affecting lungs, triggering acid rains and such things. Proper education on the facts is required. “I think we need to keep pushing. The future is looking good; in the end economics is going to be the deciding factor. If we get one kilogram (clean hydrogen) for a USD, it is going to be the winner,” he added.
Experts believe that the way forward should be multi-dimensional with all options on the table, for now, leading different technologies to compete with each other and pick the best economical technology. Multiple technologies should be deployed and based on the wealth of the respective region. Optimal integration of oil industry, automotive, academia and government to aim at the same goal is the need of the hour, experts opined.