The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has recently operationalized India’s first state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (CoE) dedicated for research and innovation in green hydrogen technologies. The one-of-its-kind CoE has been setup in IIT-BHU, Varanasi making UP the hydrogen hub of India.
About Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
CSIR is an autonomous research organization allied to the Ministry of Science and Technology. With a pan-India network of 38 national labs, CSIR undertakes cutting edge R&D across diverse domains aiming for socioeconomic development.
Key Features of the CoE
Some salient aspects of the recently launched Centre of Excellence for Green Hydrogen are:
- The CoE aims to work on hydrogen production, storage, utilization and fuel cells covering the entire value chain. Research in new materials like metal hydrides, nano-carbon, catalysts etc forms a major focus area.
- It will focus on development of affordable H2 production systems at scale along with refueling infrastructure for applications across transportation, gas grids and industrial users.
- Testing and certification facilities for hydrogen storage equipment are being setup along with fuel cell stack development.
Significance of Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen has gained tremendous industry momentum over the past few years as the clean fuel of the future with applications across key economic sectors. Some key beneficial attributes supporting the case for Green Hydrogen (H2) are:
- It is produced using renewable energy based electrolysis and thus a sustainable fuel across its lifecycle. Grey hydrogen from fossil fuels cannot meet decarbonization targets despite cost economics currently.
- Versatile applications across transportation including long haul trucks, industries, refineries, microgrids and chemical and metal productions. It permits structured sectoral consumption.
- Enables significant reduction in air pollution when blended up to 20% into existing natural gas grids. Complete shift brings 100% breathable air.
- Avoids upstream methane leaks from natural gas which itself is a potent greenhouse gas during production and pipelines.
- Vast production potential from India’s renewable energy capacity with aim for 500 GW green power by 2030. Enables renewable energy storage also.
The upcoming mission on Green Hydrogen under the National Hydrogen Energy Mission can be aptly supported through targeted R&D from specialized centers of excellence across India.
Comparison of Green Hydrogen with Fossil Fuel Based Grey Hydrogen
| Parameter | Green Hydrogen | Grey Hydrogen |
| Feedstock | Renewable Energy and Electrolysis | Natural Gas Reforming |
| Carbon Emissions | Zero | Significant |
| Air Pollution | None | PM, NOx emissions |
| Production Scalability | High using renewable power | Limited by gas availability |
| Export Potential | High based on sustainability | Lower onwards |
| Self-Reliance | Higher from indigenous renewable energy | Dependent on imported fuels |
Green hydrogen is certainly the sustainable way forward to meet India’s hydrogen demand across diverse sectors in the long run.
Varanasi – India’s Hydrogen Hub
Varanasi – India’s Hydrogen Hub
- Varanasi joins leading global hydrogen hubs like Fukuoka, Rotterdam, Aberdeen through India’s first dedicated green hydrogen research center
- Existing hydrogen research organizations in these cities have driven large scale deployment
- The CoE at IIT-(BHU) aims to catalyze similar development in India
- CoE located strategically next to proposed Green Hydrogen fuelling station at BHU
- Reflects wider local hydrogen ecosystem seeding
- Can drive structured Green hydrogen demand creation in UP across:
- Fertilizers
- Steel
- Chemicals
- Heavy automobiles
- Inland waterways
- Inculcates integrated supply-demand aspects through technology demonstrations
- Enables overall hydrogen economy creation
Overview of Global Hydrogen Hubs and Leadership
| Hydrogen Valley | Key Focus | Institutions Involved |
| Fukuoka, Japan | Hydrogen supply infrastructure and power generation | Fukuoka Strategy Conference, Hydrogen Utilization Study Group |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Storage and transportation, refuelling stations | Port of Rotterdam Authority, Rotterdam Climate Initiative |
| Aberdeen, Scotland | Transport, heating and power sectors | University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council |
Potential Downstream Industries in UP
Some of the major downstream manufacturing industries that can leverage green hydrogen supplies from the Varanasi centre of excellence are:
- Heavy automobiles → Fuel Cell Electric Trucks and Buses
- Chemicals → Ammonia, Methanol
- Refineries → Refinery Upgrade Units
- Steel → Direct Reduced Iron Process
- Shipping → Hydrogen ICE Engines in Inland Waterways
- Microgrids → Hydrogen Gas Power Generators
- Fertilizers → Manufacturing Process Fuel
A wide cross section of sectors stand to benefit through development of cost-efficient hydrogen technologies suiting their operational needs while aligning with larger decarbonization goals.
Emerging Solution for Solar and Wind Energy Storage
- Green hydrogen provides large scale renewable energy storage solutions
- Persisting challenge of energy storage limits sustained renewable energy growth
- California’s Route 85 corridor setting up one of the biggest hydrogen storage facilities using excess wind energy
- Avoids wastage at times of low power demand and optimizes infrastructure
- The UP CoE can enable similar storage of excess solar power during daytime into hydrogen
- Electrolyzers can split hydrogen using high afternoon solar generation
Key Takeaways
The key highlights around the new Centre of Excellence for Green Hydrogen Research set up in Uttar Pradesh by CSIR are:
- India’s first exclusive facility for research, innovation and technology demonstrations across the hydrogen value chain encompassing production, storage, distribution and applications
- Located strategically at IIT-(BHU) campus in Varanasi which is fast emerging as the hydrogen valley of India
- Focus sectors include chemicals, refineries, steel, heavy transport, shipping, microgrids and process industries across UP
- Renewable energy storage is a key solution dimension
- Aim to nurture specialized skills and develop pilot projects for real-world technology translation.