India Leading the World into a Greener Future?
This time, it's really greener on the other side.
We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children - Lester Brown
For years, scientists have been warning us that we are sitting on a climate time-bomb. That time bomb is no longer “set to explode” in the future: it has already exploded.
The fangs of global warming and climate change have started poisoning our lives. If we do not act now, we will soon be devoured by nature. And so, our global leaders are scrambling for solutions to meet their emission targets (that is, how much greenhouse gas we want to emit in the environment so that Earth does not warm at an alarming rate) for the next decade.
How do they plan to do this? Read on.
Green Hydrogen is an environment-friendly source of energy that does not lead to pollution, unlike combustible sources such as coal, oil and gas. The challenge, however, lies in its production technique, which cannot be done at a large scale, at a reasonable cost.
If a nation can conquer this problem, it can meet a reasonable chunk of its sustainability goals.
And so, many global energy and industrial players led by Chart Industries and, of course, Reliance Industries Ltd. have come together to form a new energy transition coalition, called the Indian H2 Alliance (IH2A).
What will the alliance do?
It is working with the Indian Government on 5 aspects-
formulating a hydrogen policy and roadmap for the years 2021 to 2030;
forming a national H2 task force;
supporting and conducting hydrogen demonstration campaigns;
creating an all-India Fund specifically for Hydrogen production;
and forming measures for the storage and distribution of hydrogen.
And not just India, more than 25 nations have jumped on the bandwagon for commercializing Hydrogen. It can potentially become an ideal power source for industries such as steel, cement, refining and industrial heating.
But for India, the alliance is crucial. This specific innovation could either catapult it to success or pull it backwards in its development graph.
You see, India is set to become the third-largest energy consumer of the world by 2030. And currently, this energy requirement is mostly met by imports of non-renewable sources of energy. If it does not mend its ways now, its import bills will keep growing in the future apart from the fact that the high environmental cost will unleash a catastrophe for the nation and its people.
Now before you panic, let us tell you that there is a ray of hope in this bubble of darkness. Green H2 is made by splitting water (H20) using renewable power. And, India’s renewable power prices are extremely low (Rs.1,99/kWh). This makes us a frontrunner in the league of hydrogen manufacturing. What’s more, it could also lead to the creation of a green technology market in India worth $18-20 bn.
India has also made some vital moves in this area. We are seeking to leverage our existing CNG pipeline to transport hydrogen. There are even plans to run buses across cities fueled by hydrogen mixed with CNG!
All in all, the future of Indian energy looks greener. With the right execution, we can aim to be the largest exporter of green energy to the world. A mission worth rooting for, no?
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