Need to make hydrogen more cost-effective and cleaner: Government Science Adviser

The national capital is hosting the five-day Steering Committee Meeting of the 23-nation International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) from March 18–22. The attendees will engage in dialogue on recent advancements in hydrogen technology and pinpoint crucial domains for more cooperation.

Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, Prof. Ajay Sood, spoke on the first day of the conference held as IPHE Academic Outreach at IIT Delhi. He emphasized that although hydrogen technology is not particularly new, cooperation is still needed to make it more affordable and environmentally friendly.

He emphasized the value of R&D and talent development in the industry and noted that many other Ministries of the Indian government are working to embrace green hydrogen in addition to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The Principal Scientific Advisor emphasized that production, storage, transportation, distribution, and consumption are the five main areas of activity in the hydrogen value chain.

Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, emphasized the significance and difficulty of climate change. He emphasized that in order to facilitate the energy transition and the growth of the hydrogen industry, universities and research institutions would need to put in a lot of effort, cooperation, and partnership. He emphasized the significance of increasing the proportion of green hydrogen and phasing out gray hydrogen.

India is a major economic force, driving the world economy, and playing a key role in determining the direction of renewable energy, according to IPHE Vice-Chairperson Noe Van Hulst. He focused on how academics can play a significant role in determining the future of clean hydrogen by emphasizing the need for skills, educational outreach, and research and innovation.

Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, dean of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), emphasized the university’s 20-year commitment to the research and development of hydrogen-powered cars. He provided information on the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in energy systems offered by the institution, as well as the research and development (R&D) being done at IIT Delhi on high-pressure storage at 750 bar hydrogen cylinder.

The European Commission is one of the 23 member nations that make up the IPHE, which was founded in 2003 with the goal of improving fuel cell and hydrogen technology worldwide. An essential forum for promoting global cooperation and coordination among member nations, stakeholders, and decision-makers is the biennial IPHE Steering Committee Meetings. These gatherings allow for the sharing of information on policy and technological advancements, identifying important areas for cooperation that guide follow-up projects in participating nations.