Experts deliberate on challenges, prospects of hydrogen energy commercialisation
Industrialists, entrepreneurs,
business aspirants and enthusiasts from various sectors discussed
the challenges and prospects of hydrogen energy commercialization at a workshop
on fostering start-up ecosystems for commercialisation of hydrogen technologies.
Dr R Vijay, Director of ARCI, stressed on the importance of reducing
the cost of hydrogen production to make it more market-attractive while
speaking as Guest of Honour at the workshop organised by ARCI an autonomous
institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on the occasion
of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day on 8th October2024.
He also showcased ARCI’s role in transferring hydrogen
technologies both at the component level and through integrated systems and
said that ARCI is supporting many start-ups in the energy sector.
The 7th consecutive annual hydrogen workshop was
organised at the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology of International Advanced
Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), at IITM
Research Park, Chennai.
In his inaugural address, Prof
Mohammad Rihan, Director General of the National Institute of Solar
Energy (NISE), highlighted the mission-mode approach of integrating solar power
with electrolyzer for green hydrogen generation for energy storage and
conversion to electricity through fuel cells. He underscored the synergy
between solar energy and hydrogen technologies, offering a sustainable pathway
toward green energy. He also mentioned that ARCI and NISE have already signed a
MoU to jointly work for the realisation of the above approach.
Dr R Gopalan, Former Regional Director of ARCI, Chennai, emphasised the need for a circular
economy in hydrogen production to further reduce costs and highlighted India’s
emerging leadership in green ammonia synthesis alongside other developed
nations.
Eminent speakers such as Dr
GA Pathanjali, Managing Director of High Energy Batteries,
Tiruchirappalli, Krishnan Sadagopan,
Senior Vice President at Ashok Leyland, and Dr
RamadasArumugamSakunthalai, Director at the Global Automotive Research
Centre (GARC), discussed the critical role of hydrogen in the Indian automotive
market. They delved into hydrogen’s application in transportation and the
challenges and potential for growth in this sector.
Several start-up founders and representatives shared
their experiences with hydrogen production and utilization, discussing their
capabilities as well as the hurdles they face in scaling their technologies.
Key challenges such as cost, infrastructure development, and regulatory
barriers were highlighted. Participants explored strategies to reduce
production and distribution costs to make hydrogen more economically viable.
The workshop underscored the need for collaboration
between industry, academia, and research institutions, with ARCI playing a
pivotal role in fostering these partnerships. This collaboration is seen as
essential for achieving hydrogen economy in India.
This year’s
workshop not only celebrated National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day but also
marked a significant step in India’s journey towards a green energy future. The
discussions and insights shared during the event will contribute to the
development of hydrogen technologies that can reshape the global energy
landscape.