The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) Renewable Energy Ltd (REL) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Territory of Ladakh for the creation of the country’s inaugural Green Hydrogen Mobility project. Alongside this initiative, NTPC REL is also set to establish a solar park at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Here, it plans on producing green hydrogen commercially, under the Ultra-Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) scheme. The term ‘green hydrogen’ denotes hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources.
Ultra-Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) Scheme and Solar Park Scheme
The UMREPP is a scheme designed to develop large-scale renewable energy power parks under the existing Solar Park Scheme. Launched by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2014, the Solar Park Scheme works to construct numerous solar parks across India’s various states. The central government provides financial support to this effort. The principal objective of UMREPP is to offer land upfront to project developers and assist with transmission infrastructure for the development of Renewable Energy (RE) based Power Parks with solar, wind, hybrid and storage systems.
Green Hydrogen Mobility Project
With its sights set on starting with five hydrogen buses, NTPC REL will setup a solar plant and green hydrogen generation unit in Leh. This will establish Leh as the country’s first city to implement a green hydrogen-based mobility project. This is a step towards zero-emission mobility and is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘carbon-neutral’ Ladakh. This project would aid Ladakh in developing a carbon-free economy powered by renewable sources and green hydrogen.
India’s Largest Solar Park
NTPC REL is planning to establish a 4.75 gigawatt (GW) renewable energy park at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. This facility will be the nation’s largest solar park, built by the country’s biggest power producer. The Gujarat region, housing India’s biggest salt desert and two of its largest coal-fired power plants, will now add this significant project to its achievements.
Other Major Projects of NTPC
NTPC has recently commissioned India’s largest Floating Solar of 10 MW (ac) on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh with plans to commission an additional 15 MW (ac) by August 2021. Plus, a 100 MW Floating Solar Project on Telangana’s Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant reservoir is currently in advanced stages of implementation.
Other Solar Energy Initiatives
India’s National Solar Mission plays a pivotal role in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change. It aims to install 100 GW grid-connected solar power plants by 2022, as part of India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to reduce emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 levels by 2030. In 2015, the Prime Minister of India and the President of France announced the launch of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France.
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited
The NTPC Ltd., a central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power, along with its 100% subsidiary, NTPC REL, form India’s biggest energy conglomerate. Since 1975, NTPC’s goal has been to expedite power development in India, providing reliable power in an efficient, economical, and eco-friendly manner. Lauded as a Maharatna company in May 2010, NTPC champions the use of green hydrogen-based solutions in sectors such as mobility, energy, chemical, fertilizer, and steel. The company’s headquarters is located in New Delhi.