Why in News?

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of NTPC  will set up the India’s first green Hydrogen Mobility project in Ladakh.

About Green Hydrogen:

• Hydrogen when produced by electrolysis with the use ofrenewable energy is calledGreen Hydrogen.
• It is said to haveno carbon footprint.
• The hydrogen in use today is produced using fossil fuels, thus having carbon footprint.
• Organic materials like fossil fuels, biomass etc. are used for releasing hydrogen through various chemical processes.

About Hydrogen Fuel:

• Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel burned when with pure oxygen.
• Uses of Hydrogen fuel
  • Fuel cells: Generate electricity.
  • Internal combustion engines like in vehicles.
  • Spacecraft propulsion

Properties of Hydrogen:

• Hydrogen is the first element on the periodic table. It is also the lightest element.
• Hydrogen is less dense than air, hence it rises in the atmosphere, because of which it is rarely found in its pure form, H2.
• At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a nontoxic, non-metallic, odourless, colourless, and highly combustible gas.
• It is the most abundant element in the universe.

Key Takeaways:

• Molecular hydrogen is not available on Earth in convenient natural reservoirs.

Most hydrogen on Earth is bonded to oxygen in water and to carbon in live or dead and/or fossilized biomass.

• Water is the most abundant compound of hydrogen found on earth.
• Storage of hydrogen as a liquid requires cryogenic temperatures because the boiling point of hydrogen at one atmosphere pressure is −252.8°C.
• Storage of hydrogen as a gas typically requires high-pressure tanks.
• Hydrogen can also be stored on the surfaces of solids (by adsorption) or within solids (by absorption).

Benefits of hydrogen as a fuel:

• No harmful emissions.
• Non-toxic substance.
• Hydrogen is three times as powerful as gasoline and other fossil fuels. It means that it can accomplish more with less.
• It is fuel efficient. Compared to diesel or gas, it is much more fuel efficient as it can produce more energy per pound of fuel.
• It is renewable. It can be produced again and again, unlike other non-renewable sources of energy.
• Abundantly available.

Limitations in usage of Hydrogen Fuel:

• Hydrogen does not occur in deposits or reserves abundantly like fossil fuel.
• Hydrogen is far more expensive to produce using renewables.
• Hydrogen-fuelled vehicles aremore expensive.
• It is highly flammable, thus difficult to store.