Bringing back reactors for green Hydrogen
If India is to achieve ‘net-zero’ emissions by 2070, it will need several more nuclear plants to increase its nuclear power generation capacity from 15,000 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031.
Heating water using high temperature reactors (HTRs) and then splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen in an electrolyzer is a cost-effective way of providing energy.
The Indian HTR development program had two elements:
A 100 kW (thermal) and 1000 °C portable ‘Compact High Temperature Reactor’ (CHTR) for technology demonstration and a 600 MW (thermal) and 1000 °C ‘Indian High Temperature Reactor-Hydrogen’ or IHTR-HA.
About Green Hydrogen-
- Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using a renewable source (such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or an electric current generated by a wind turbine.
- Its potential applications include transportation, permanent power such as backup power units and affordable applications such as consumer electronics, recreational equipment, etc.
Measures taken in India:
- National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap has been implemented.
- In the year 2020, Delhi became the first city in India to operate buses with hydrogen-rich CNG.
- Hydrogen fuel cell based bus project will be started in Leh by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
- National Hydrology Portal has been launched.
Types of Hydrogen:
- Green Hydrogen: It is hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources of energy such as hydropower, wind and solar power. It has zero carbon emissions.
- Pink/Purple/Red Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by electrolysis using hydrogen atomic energy.
- Turquoise hydrogen: This is hydrogen produced by the thermal fission of methane (methane pyrolysis), rather than CO2, to produce solid carbon.
- Black/Grey Hydrogen: Hydrogen extracted from natural gas using steam-methane reforming.
- Yellow Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by electrolysis using electricity received from the grid.
- White Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced as a byproduct of industrial processes
- Blue Hydrogen: ‘Grey or brown colored hydrogen whose CO is enveloped or reusable.
- Brown Hydrogen: Hydrogen extracted from fossil fuels is typically extracted from coal using gasification.
Source – The Hindu
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