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India’s First Pure Green Hydrogen Plant Commissioned

  • 22 Apr 2022

On 20th April 2022, Oil India Limited (OIL) has commissioned India’s first 99.999% pure Green Hydrogen pilot plant, with an installed capacity of 10 kg per day at its Jorhat Pump Station in Assam.

  • This is a first significant step towards Green Hydrogen Economy in India.

Finer Points

  • The plant produces Green Hydrogen from the electricity generated by the existing 500kW Solar plant using a 100 kW Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyser array.
  • The use of AEM technology is being used for the first time in India.

AEM Technology

  • Anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis is a hydrogen production method that is achieved with an AEM, using electricity.
  • One of the major advantages of AEM water electrolysis is the replacement of conventional noble metal electrocatalysts with low cost transition metal catalysts.
  • This plant is expected to increase its production of green hydrogen from 10 kg per day to 30 kg per day in future.
  • The company has initiated a detailed study in collaboration with IIT Guwahati on blending of Green Hydrogen with Natural Gas and its effect on the existing infrastructure of OIL.
  • The company also plans to study use cases for commercial applications of the blended fuel.

Green Hydrogen

  • Green hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy is recognised as the most promising energy carrier we have for fully replacing fossils fuels in many sectors.

Water Electrolysis Method & Storage of Renewable Energy in Green Hydrogen

  • Water electrolysis is the reaction of splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. It is an endothermic process, which means it can absorb and store energy in the form of chemical bonds in hydrogen. The reverse reaction of hydrogen and oxygen forming water molecules, on the other hand, is an exothermic reaction that releases energy to its surroundings.
  • Using the cycle of endothermal water electrolysis and subsequent exothermal water forming reactions, we can store renewable energy in green hydrogen – without fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions.