IISc and Indian Oil join hands for Hydrogen Generation Technology.

The IISc and the Indian Oil Corporation Research and Development Centre have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Hydrogen Generation Technology based on biomass gasification. It will be developed in order to produce Fuel Cell Grade Hydrogen at an affordable price.

Key Facts

The technology that is being developed under the MoU will provide clean energy option, The clean energy in turn will address the challenge of biomass waste. The technology will be demonstrated at the Indian Oil Research and Development Centre at Faridabad. The hydrogen generated from this demonstration plant will be used to power fuel cell buses.

What is Biomass Gasification?

It is a process converting the biomass to hydrogen and other products. The process does not involves combustion rather it is done with the help of steam, heat and oxygen. The technology was first developed by IISc to produce hydrogen rich synthetic gas from biomass. Later, hydrogen was separated from the synthetic gas.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is most abundantly found in universe. 90% of the atoms in the universe are made of hydrogen. The most abundant compound of hydrogen is Water. Hydrogen is mostly bonded to oxygen in water and carbon in live or dead fossilised biomass on the Earth. Hydrogen is a zero-emission fuel which is used as fuel for space craft propulsion. Water is the only by-product if hydrogen fuel. Thus, hydrogen fuel is 100% clean. Hydrogen can be stored in gaseous or liquid form. In gaseous form, it is stored in high pressure tank while in liquid form, it is stored at cryogenic temperatures.

Benefits of Hydrogen

Hydrogen in renewable, non-toxic and environment friendly. It produces more energy per unit of fuel than diesel and gas. It is used as fuel in rockets. It does not occur in deposits like fossil fuels. However, the fuel is expensive to produce and is highly flammable.