State-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) said that they have started India’s First ever green hydrogen blending project in the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) network of its township in Kawas, Surat.
According to a company statement, “This project is a joint venture between NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL). P Ram Prasad, Head of Project, Kawas, set the first molecule of green hydrogen from the project into motion in the presence of other senior executives from NTPC Kawas and GGL.”
In light of the beginning of the green hydrogen blending project, National Thermal Power Corporation Kawas conducted awareness workshops for residents of the township with the assistance of GGL officials. To reach this milestone in record time, NTPC and GGL worked tirelessly after the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone on July 30, 2022.
Kawas township in Adityanagar, Surat, is now equipped with a new gas distribution system that will provide residents with H2-NG (natural gas). In Kawas, they will electrolyse water to create green hydrogen using energy from an existing 1 MW floating solar plant.
The regulatory agency, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), has authorised the initial 5% vol/vol blending of green hydrogen with PNG. The blending level is going to increase gradually until it reaches 20%.
Natural gas and green hydrogen together cut CO2 emissions while maintaining the same net heating content. Only a few countries, such as the UK, Germany, and Australia, have achieved this feat.
As a result, India would become a key player in the global hydrogen economy. By exporting green hydrogen and green chemicals to the world, India could not only reduce its hydrocarbon import bill significantly but it can also bring forex ashore.
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