Many manufacturers have turned to electrically powered engines, but is this possible for all automakers? For a company like JCB, which specializes in the manufacture of engines for heavy machinery, electric engines are just not good enough. This is because electric engines are incapable of producing the kind of power these heavy machines require. 

Replacing diesel engines with batteries in heavy-lifting equipment will amount to sacrificing power for less environmentally harmful emissions. And quite frankly, other brands can afford to make that sacrifice, but not JCB. Certain activities, like construction and agriculture, require machines with power, and that’s a fact. So JCB acknowledged the need for a peculiar solution to their dilemma. They realized they just had to make environmentally friendly engines by some means, but they couldn't afford to sacrifice the power of their engines.

JCB Embraces Hydrogen Fuel: A Game-Changer for Construction Machinery

To suffice these conditions, in 2020, JCB started working towards developing hydrogen-powered engines with similar power potentials as diesel engines but this time it was environmentally friendly. 

Video Courtesy: JCB Youtube

Now, barely a few years down the line, even though JCB has yet to commence the mass production of hydrogen engines, they have made immense progress. For JCB, hydrogen engines are the future, and they are championing this course. 

Reasons behind opting for Hydrogen Engine

In this article, we will take a look at JCB's hydrogen engine. We will also examine why JCB has opted for hydrogen as the fuel that powers its engine of the future, the benefits of hydrogen over diesel engines, and how much impact this invention will have on drivers.

Electric engines can power small machines that do not require immense amounts of energy. Advancements in technology, like the manufacture of electric cars, have proven this. But what we are yet to see are electrically powered heavy trucks, and that’s simply because heavy machines like the type manufactured by JCB have higher energy needs—needs that battery power won’t be sufficient to meet. To provide this amount of energy via the EV route, these machines must be fitted with giant-sized batteries. The physical space required to carry these batteries and the additional weight this would require make it impracticable.

 Whether it is Indycar racing, NASCAR, or Top Fuel Dragster normal petrol can not be used to drive all the cars used in these racing events. To drive these cars such fuel is needed, and the base ingredient found in every alcoholic beverage is ethanol. This drinkable ethanol is used in these super-fast cars because it is produced from grains and sugarcane. From which hangover drinks are made and it is also highly flammable like petrol nowadays.

Ethanol is being discussed everywhere because it can also be used to drive normal passenger vehicles like race cars, and ethanol is considered to be a fuel that can reduce the dependency on countries like India, which imports crude oil in huge quantities. Middle Eastern countries have surplus crude oil and it is important because their dependency on India for crude oil imports is increasing yearly.

What is Flex Engine?

During the year 2022-23, the demand for crude oil in India increased by 73% and a bill of $ 90 Billion was to be paid by India. All this is happening because the number of car owners in India is increasing every year. That's the reason Shri Nitin Gadkari said in an interview,” In a span of about 6 months, Every petrol engine in India whether it is a two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and four-wheeler will consist of a flex engine”. To elaborate on what Shri Nitin Gadkari said the flex-fuel engines about which Shri Nitin Gadkari mentioned are also Internal Combustion Engines just like any normal car or motorcycle which are visible on Indian roads. 

But the Flex-fuel engines differ in such a way that these can use flex-fuel for their operation which means a fuel that has both petrol and ethanol mixed in some proportion In India, currently, all the vehicles run on E10 petrol which means fuel that has 10% ethanol And 90% of petrol and you must have heard about E10 petrol earlier. But the Indian government wants that In the next couple of years, E20 fuel should be used in all vehicles Which will consist of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol E20 petrol is now available in some selected firms in some states of India. It is being claimed that flex-fuel will cause less air pollution and the dependency of India on foreign crude oil would reduce which is right in some sense. 

What are the benefits of using Flex Fuel?

But some more facts should not be ignored when we are already promoting electric vehicles, hydrogen, and hybrid vehicles so much what is the need for this flex fuel? And how would it be beneficial? And how flex fuel can again increase the prices of vehicles in India and how the environment would be impacted after the heavy usage of ethanol.

History of Ethanol Flex-Fuel Engine

First of all, let's understand why ethanol is getting promoted before that let's understand, the history of vehicles driven by ethanol cars driven by flex-fuel was introduced about 100 years ago. Ford Model T, which was developed between the years 1908 and 1927, was capable of moving with ethanol-blended petrol and this car consisted of an adjustable jetting carburetor which made it possible for the car to drive with ethanol-blended petrol. Apart from Ford, other car manufacturers also started doing the same but for almost half a century petrol was very cheap. Hence the automotive manufacturers did not find it economical to use ethanol-blended petrol But due to the occurrence of the oil crisis in the year 1973 there was a shortage of petrol and after this many countries started realizing that oil dependency was not good for any country's economy. Since then the concept of flex-fuel has started getting promoted but still, it has not come into the limelight because till now, even after the shortage, Petrol was available in surplus quantity and till now Global Warming has been a myth. 

Since the beginning of the 21st century countries started realizing the importance of flex-fuel and global warming was the major reason behind this which has now become the reality. In August 2018, American Coalition for Ethanol published a research paper According to which E85 Flex fuel, Emits about 50% fewer greenhouse gases as compared to petrol this E85 flex fuel, consists of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol due to this countries like Brazil, Canada, Sweden, and the U.S. produced vehicles that can run on E85 flex fuel or 100% ethanol very long ago. While the U.S. was the only country that produces ethanol the most the U.S. does not use the ethanol produced in the automobile sector this is done by Brazil.

Brazil might be the 2nd largest producer of flex-fuel in the whole world but Brazil is the largest consumer of flex-fuel in the automotive industry. In the year 2018, 27 million cars were in Brazil, which means more than 73% of the total cars in Brazil were driving via ethanol-blended petrol Now the biggest question arises, Why only Brazil? That is because, When there was a fuel crisis all over the globe Brazil too was affected by the fuel crisis. But Brazil had an advantage that was only present in Brazil and that was Sugarcane. Sugarcane is such a crop from which Ethanol can be extracted since sugarcane is composed of starch and sugar.

How Ethanol is Produced?

If we look into the basics of this process and try to understand this process from the basics then this process includes, harvesting the sugar and firstly extraction of juice from it The sugarcane juice is then fermented. In the process of Fermentation, CO2 gas is emitted from this sugarcane juice In a very huge number and after this, the obtained product is sent for distillation finally, ethanol is developed. Ethanol can be extracted from other grains as well like corn and America produces a major portion of ethanol from corn. Now Brazil obtained an advantage from sugarcane because it is the world's biggest producer of sugarcane. Brazil has been producing sugarcane in huge quantities since the 16th century. To manufacture sugar from it and export it as well. 

Why is the Indian Government Pushing Flex Fuel?

This advantage of the heavy production of sugarcane is also present in India Like Brazil, India also produces sugarcane in huge quantities. While today, India is ranked 2nd in the whole world for the production of sugarcane. 

But till now, the major portion of the sugarcane harvested in India has been used for the production of sugar. Nowadays, India is producing a very huge quantity of sugar a major portion of the sugar produced is kept unused. India has been producing surplus sugar from the year 2010 which means we are producing sugar more than what is required since sugar is available in surplus quantity in India. Due to this reason, the Indian government wants to benefit from this and the Indian government is promoting flex fuel so much The Indian government has set a target for the year 2025 To make E20 fuel compulsory for all vehicles. In December 2022, SIAM, (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) addressing an event organized by SIAM the road and Transport Minister of India Shri Nitin Gadkari said that every year the prices of crude oil fluctuate Which causes a lot of trouble and that's why we must move towards 100% flex-fuel vehicles. That is a clear indication that the Indian government is very interested in this flex fuel, especially Shri Nitin Gadkari.

TVS Apache RTR 200 FI E100

The TVS Apache RTR 200 FI E100: A High-Performance Motorcycle with Ethanol Fuel Capability.

The TVS Apache RTR 200 FI E100 is a motorcycle that runs on Ethanol and has the following specifications:

• Fuel Type: Ethanol

• Engine: 197.75cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, oil-cooled Si 4 valve

• Power output: 21 bhp @ 8,500 rpm

• Torque: 18.1 Nm @ 7,000 rpm

• Fuel system: Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) with twin-spray-twin-port system

• Fuel tank capacity: 12 liters

• Brakes: 300mm petal disc with ABS (front), 240mm petal disc (rear)

• Suspension: Telescopic fork (front), mono-shock (rear)

• Tires: 90/90-17 (front), 130/70-17 (rear)

• Transmission: 5-speed gearbox

• Kerb Weight: 153 kg

• Top speed: 129 km/h

• Price: INR 1.2 lakh as of February 2023.

Flex Fuel Vehicle showcased in 2023 AutoExpo India

In October 2022, Shri Nitin Gadkari Launched India's first flex-fuel stock hybrid car, the Corolla Altis, this car was introduced in India as a pilot project vehicle and TATA MOTORS flaunted their GTI Engines in the Auto Expo 2023, these engines can also support flex fuel which is E20 which is by the new Indian norms and also Maruti showcased its all-new the TVS Apache RTR bike which runs on Ethanol Flex Fuel. Bajaj also launched its bike Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Ethanol Flex Fuel.

Now we have understood the two major benefits of flex-fuel.

1. The first is the reduction in carbon emissions. 

2. The second and crucial advantage is self-reliance on fuel production.

3. The third benefit would be from the forex reserves In the financial year 2022, India spent $ 119 Billion To purchase crude oil India used the major portion of its forex reserves to import oil and petroleum products. But ethanol blending can reduce this spending and we have already observed its proof when the target of E10 flex fuel was achieved by India. Then, in August 2022, Shri Narendra Modi said that In the past 6-7 years, India has saved more than $ 6 Billion of its forex reserves, and after the full usage of E20 fuel more than $ 4 Billion in forex reserves would be saved annually and the energy demand in India is going to shoot up very rapidly in the coming years.

That's why it is important to become self-reliant in the energy sector 

4. The Fourth and last benefit of Ethanol production is employment. As we have just discussed, Ethanol can be extracted from crops like sugarcane. This would increase the earnings of the farmers and the rural economy would also grow. Because for the production of Ethanol, plants would be set up in rural areas and workers would be needed for the proper operation of these plants.

Negative impacts of Flex Fuel

But there also exist some negative impacts in the production of ethanol from sugarcane The first and the biggest negative impact is the water crisis According to a report published by the Niti Aayog To produce a liter of ethanol from sugarcane 2860 liters of water are needed. Apart from this, In July 2020, a research paper was published according to which, to complete the target of E20 ethanol-blended petrol set for the year 2025, 1320 Million tons of sugarcane would be needed. Which will require additional 19 Million Hectares of Land and an additional 348 Billion cubic meters of water would be required. If you look into this very closely then these are huge numbers to increase the production of ethanol the production of sugarcane has to be increased and ultimately high sugarcane production could become the reason for water pollution. Because the fertilizers and slit emitted from the sugarcane farms and sugar mills would pollute the freshwater ecosystem.

Today, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Mesoamerican Reef in Brazil Pollutants are getting dumped which is polluting the coral ecosystem. By the way, India is very behind in the production of ethanol even though, India produces a surplus amount of sugarcane the major portion of the sugarcane produced is consumed as sugar and today India is standing 13th in the world in the production of ethanol. But as soon as the production of ethanol would increase the third bigger problem would also arise which is food security.

Food Security due to ethanol extraction

India produces 84% of its ethanol from sugarcane 10% from rice And the rest from corn In December 2022, in India, The retail inflation of rice was 10.5% and that of corn was 17.5% But when the dependency on transportation on ethanol would increase India has to use a major portion of its crops in the production of ethanol which will eventually lead to more inflation. However, the Indian government is trying to produce ethanol from various raw materials Like Parali, sugar, wheat, potatoes, etc. But the success would only be known in the coming years. 

There is one more major problem with ethanol which is not linked to our food but is linked to your pocket. Today, a liter of ethanol costs INR 65, and INR 97-98 for a liter of petrol. Hence, ethanol is about INR 32-33 cheaper than petrol and this is a huge difference. But the per molecular energy of ethanol is less than that of petrol therefore to obtain the same amount of energy about 1.6 Litres of ethanol is to be burned. While 1 Litre of petrol can produce exactly the same amount of energy and if we observe in this way, Then, the price difference between ethanol and petrol would be very less and your pocket would not be impacted highly. It could be slightly expensive but another thing that can make a hole in your pockets is the development of flex-fuel engines by the automotive Manufacturers for the E20 petrol. 

The major changes the automotive Manufacturers have to make in the engine are a change in the material of the engine to protect it from corrosion by ethanol and a change in the injection system of the vehicles Due to this, the cars which are already very expensive. Due to heavy taxes and the BS6 upgradations Will become even more expensive. An extra load would also be imposed on the automotive Manufacturers because they are already investing huge capital in the Research and Development of electric and hybrid vehicles and they have to invest highly in the production of upgraded BS6 engines. In the end, all these expenses would be extracted from the consumers.

What are the Indian Models of Ethanol Flex Fuel

Currently, there are a few Flex Fuel vehicles available in India, including the TVS Apache RTR 200 FI E100 and some models from Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors. As more car manufacturers enter the Flex Fuel market and the government continues to provide incentives for clean energy adoption, Flex Fuel technology will likely become more widespread in India in the coming years.

Conclusion

By now you must have understood that Flex fuel has both advantages and serious disadvantages. But the benefit is mainly focused on the reduction of the dependency on fossil fuels because at the end of the day, emissions would not stop from the Tailpipe and as mentioned previously the mileage of any vehicle drops due to ethanol because more amount of ethanol is to be consumed by the engine, to produce the same amount of power and due to this, the tailpipe emissions would not reduce in huge numbers. Because in the end, you are burning more flex-fuel in comparison to petrol. 

Do let me know your thoughts about this flex fuel, According to you what things could improve due to this flex fuel? And in what ways the flex fuel would be beneficial to Indians?

 Solar energy systems are a clean and renewable energy source that can significantly reduce a building's carbon footprint and energy costs. Solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity that can be used to power a building. The electricity generated by solar panels is clean, meaning it doesn't produce any harmful emissions or pollutants that contribute to climate change. They are also relatively easy to install and maintain, making them a popular choice for both residential and commercial buildings.

Being a clean energy source, solar energy systems can also significantly reduce a building's energy costs. Solar panels can generate electricity at a lower cost than traditional fossil fuel sources, which can save the building owner money on their monthly energy bills.

Types of Solar Energy Systems

There are two main types of solar energy systems: 

Photovoltaic (PV) systems: PV systems use solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to power homes and businesses. They are made up of solar panels, an inverter, and a battery. Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by the panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is what is used in buildings. The battery stores excess electricity for use during times when the sun is not shining.

Thermal systems: Thermal systems use the sun's energy to heat water or air for use in buildings. They use solar collectors to absorb the sun's energy and transfer it to a fluid, such as water or air. The heated fluid is then used to heat water or air for use in buildings. There are two main types of thermal systems: active systems and passive systems. Active systems use pumps or fans to circulate the heated fluid, while passive systems rely on natural circulation.

So in this, we will be looking at PV Systems further.

How does Solar Power System Work?

A solar energy system is a system that uses solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar energy is converted into electricity through the use of solar panels. Solar panels are made of photovoltaic cells, which are made of semiconductors like silicon. When sunlight hits the cells, it excites the electrons in the semiconductor material and causes them to flow, creating an electric current.

This electric current is then sent through an inverter, which converts the direct current (DC) produced by the solar panels into alternating current (AC), which is the type of electricity used in homes and businesses. The AC electricity is then sent to a meter, which measures how much electricity is being produced and is then sent to a power panel, which distributes the electricity throughout the building.

The size of a solar energy system depends on the electricity needs of the building and the amount of sunlight the location receives. A larger system with more solar panels will be able to generate more electricity, while a smaller system will generate less.

Some solar energy systems also include storage systems, such as batteries, which allow excess electricity to be stored for use when the sun is not shining. This allows for a more stable and reliable source of electricity.

The solar panel system is connected to the grid and can either provide electricity to the home or business or send excess electricity back to the grid for others to use. This means that when the sun is shining and the solar panels are generating electricity, the home or business will use that electricity before drawing from the grid. When the sun is not shining, or when the solar panels are not producing enough electricity, the home or business will draw electricity from the grid.

What is Net metering?

If the solar panels are producing more electricity than the building is using, the excess electricity can be sent back to the grid for others to use. This process is known as net metering and can result in credits on the building's electricity bill. 

Net metering is a system that allows solar panel owners to sell excess electricity generated by their panels back to the grid. This is done through a special meter that measures the amount of electricity a solar panel system produces and the amount of electricity it uses. If the solar panel system generates more electricity than it uses, the excess electricity is sent back to the grid, and the building owner is credited for the excess electricity. If the solar panel system uses more electricity than it generates, the building owner is charged for the difference.

Net metering helps to encourage the adoption of solar panel systems by providing a financial incentive for building owners to switch to solar.

Components of Solar system

Three main types of Solar power systems:

Grid-tied solar power system: This type of system is connected to the electrical grid and uses solar panels to generate electricity, which is then fed back into the grid. This type of system does not require batteries for storage, as excess energy is sold back to the utility company.

Off-grid solar power system: This type of system is not connected to the electrical grid and relies solely on solar panels to generate electricity. This type of system requires batteries for energy storage, as it is not connected to the grid for backup power.

Hybrid solar power system: This type of system combines both grid-tied and off-grid systems, allowing for the use of both solar panels and backup power sources such as a generator. This type of system allows for more flexibility and can be useful in areas with unreliable or unstable grid power.

On-Grid Type

An on-grid solar power system is a type of solar power system that is connected to the traditional power grid. This means that the solar panels are connected to the grid through a bi-directional meter, which allows excess solar energy to be sold back to the grid. In an on-grid system, solar panels generate electricity that is used to power the home or business. Any excess solar energy is fed back into the grid and the homeowner or business owner is credited for the excess energy.

One of the main benefits of an on-grid solar power system is that it allows the user to take advantage of net metering, which allows them to sell excess electricity back to the grid at a credit to their utility bill. This can help offset the cost of the system and make it more financially viable for the user.

However, an on-grid solar power system does rely on the stability of the grid and may not be suitable for areas with unreliable power sources. It also requires a connection to the grid, which may not be possible in some remote locations.

Off-Grid Type 

An off-grid solar power system is a type of solar power system that is not connected to the traditional electrical grid. This means that the solar panels generate electricity and store it in batteries, which can then be used to power electrical appliances and devices.

Off-grid solar power systems are ideal for remote or isolated locations where the grid is not available, or in situations where the homeowner wants to become self-sufficient and produce their own electricity. They can be expensive to install initially, but they can provide significant cost savings in the long run as they do not require a connection to the grid and do not incur monthly electricity bills. They also offer the benefit of being able to operate independently of the grid, which can be useful in the event of power outages or natural disasters.

The main components of an off-grid solar power system include solar panels, a charge controller, batteries, and an inverter. The solar panels capture the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity, which is then stored in the batteries. The charge controller regulates the flow of electricity from the panels to the batteries to ensure they are charged properly. The inverter converts the stored DC electricity from the batteries into AC electricity, which is used to power appliances and devices in the home or building.

These systems require a larger initial investment but can be a cost-effective solution for those who live in areas with high energy costs or for those who want to reduce their carbon footprints.

Why On-Grid is more reliable than Off Grid

On-grid systems are advantageous because they do not require the use of a battery bank to store excess energy. This means that on-grid systems are generally less expensive and easier to maintain than off-grid systems. However, they do require a reliable connection to the grid and are not suitable for homes or businesses that are located in areas without a reliable power grid.

Hybrid Type of Solar

A hybrid solar power system combines traditional grid-tied solar power with a backup power source, such as a battery or generator. This type of system is designed to provide electricity to a home or business during periods of low solar radiation or when the PV panels are not generating enough power.

The hybrid system works by using the PV panels to generate electricity during the day, while the backup generator kicks in when the solar panels are not generating enough power or when the electricity demand is higher than the solar panels can produce. This allows for a more reliable and consistent power supply, especially during times of inclement weather or extended periods of low sunlight.

One advantage of a hybrid solar power system is that it can be easily scaled to meet the energy needs of a home or business. It can also be a more cost-effective option for those who are unable to install a full solar panel system due to roof orientation or other constraints.

Overall, a hybrid solar power system is a practical solution for those who want to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and take advantage of the benefits of solar energy, while still having a reliable backup power source.

Solar energy systems have many benefits, including:

Cost savings: Solar energy systems can significantly reduce energy costs, especially in areas with high electricity rates or when paired with net metering programs.

Environmental benefits: Solar energy systems do not produce greenhouse gases or other pollutants, making them a clean energy source.

Reliability: Solar energy systems can provide electricity during power outages, making them a reliable energy source.

Easy maintenance: Solar energy systems require minimal maintenance, with most components having a lifespan of 20-30 years.

Overall, solar energy systems are a great way for buildings to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs while also contributing to a more sustainable future.

 Recently the Adani group announced that it has entered into a partnership with Total Energies of France to jointly develop the green hydrogen ecosystem. Gautam Adani group will invest 50 billion dollars over the next 10 years on green hydrogen projects.

Adani aims to become the world's most significant Green Hydrogen player with a Green Hydrogen production capacity of one million tonnes per annum before 2030. But Adani group is not the only one to be upbeat about green hydrogen reliance industries is investing rupees 75000 crores over the next three years to build a new clean energy business.

Engineering major Larsen and Turbo (L&T) renewable energy company, Renew Power is among the many private sector companies looking to invest in this space. The list is long and even public sector companies like NTPC, BPCL, and Indian oil corporations have announced their entry into this space.

Green Hydrogen Mission

So what exactly is green hydrogen and why has it caught everyone's attention To understand this let's rewind to Independence Day August 15, 2021. As PM Modi cited. “We have to make India a global Hub for Green Hydrogen Production and export”.

Video Courtesy: PMO India

The video shared by PMO was the first time green hydrogen and the national hydrogen mission were included in the national narrative of clean energy. 

What is GREEN HYDROGEN?

You may remember reading in school books that HYDROGEN is the most abundant element in the universe but pure or elemental hydrogen is a very scarce resource. It almost always exists in compounds like with oxygen to form H2O or water. Remember reading about electrolysis in chemistry when an electric current is passed through water it splits it into elemental oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis and if the electricity used for this process comes from a renewable source like wind or solar, what you have is green hydrogen. 

So if you hear other colors attached to hydrogen it only refers to the source of electricity used in the process of electrolysis. 

For instance, if coal is used we get Brown Hydrogen. This hydrogen is a great source of energy because of its high energy content per unit of weight. This is why it is used as rocket fuel.

Green Hydrogen in particular is one of the cleanest sources of energy with close to zero emissions. It can be used in Fuel Cells for cars or in energy-guzzling industries like fertilizers and steel manufacturing. To encourage the green hydrogen industry, the government on February 17 announced the first part of the national green hydrogen policy. 

Among other things to boost the green hydrogen sector in the country, the government said, “it will allow free power transmission to renewable energy units set up by green hydrogen producers and allow power banking facilities for 30 days”, the second round of the policy is expected to announce economic incentives to boost the sector.

Companies that invested in Green Hydrogen

Several Indian companies have invested in green hydrogen technology and projects. And which are Indian Green Hydrogen stocks to invest in. While the companies are gearing up let's take a glimpse  at some of the industry heavyweights who have already announced plans to enter the green hydrogen space:

Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL)

Reliance Industries aims to be a net carbon-neutral company by 2035. It has plans of investing 75000 crore rupees in the clean energy business and green hydrogen will play an integral role in that it has also invested 50 million dollars in U.S.-based energy storage company Ambry. It has also acquired a Norwegian solar equipment maker REC Solar Holdings and has a 40 stake now in renewable project specialist companies Sterling and Wilson Solar. All this could be support for the green hydrogen business going ahead. Reliance also aims to be one of the largest producers of Blue Hydrogen globally by using petroleum coke.

Video Courtesy: CNBC TV18 

“Efforts are on globally to make green hydrogen the most affordable fuel by bringing down its cost to initially under two dollars per kilogram. India has always set and achieved even more audacious. Impossible goals and I am sure that India can set an even more aggressive target of achieving one dollar per kilogram within a decade. This will make India the first country globally to achieve one dollar per kilogram of hydrogen in one decade, the one-on-one target for green hydrogen”-Mukesh Ambani.

Adani Group in Green Hydrogen

The Adani Group, a leading Indian conglomerate, has announced plans to set up Green Hydrogen production facilities in India, using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Adani Group plans to invest 50 billion dollars over the next 10 years on a green hydrogen project with a total of France. Adani group has also signed a non-binding pact with NASDAQ-listed Ballard power system. To evaluate a joint venture for investment in the commercial production of green hydrogen fuel cells for various mobility and industrial applications in India. Adani Joined hands with Total Energy a French-based company to invest in Green Hydrogen.

Video Courtesy: Adani Group

“Hydrogen is the trigger for the smarter use of other renewables by becoming the long-term transport and distributed storage solution for electricity. It is the key link in the energy transition journey that along with wind and solar will stabilize, decentralized power generation" - Gautam Adani.

Oil India Limited the state-run oil exploration and production company Oil India Limited commissioned India's first 99.999 pure green hydrogen plant in Assam in April this year.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)

Indian oil corporation the company plans to convert grey hydrogen at its Mathura and Panipat plants into green hydrogen by 2030. The company also has in-principle approval for an investment of rupees 100 crores for setting up a green hydrogen fuel infrastructure unit at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram as a pilot project. In fact, the Indian oil corporation has tied up with Larsen and Toubro and Renew Power to jointly develop green hydrogen projects in India.

Larsen and Toubro (L&T) 

L&T Green Hydrogen is a subsidiary of Larsen and Toubro (L&T), one of India's leading engineering and construction companies. The subsidiary is focused on the development, production, and distribution of Green Hydrogen in India. It aims to support the Indian Government's National Green Hydrogen Mission 2023 and contribute to the country's goal of achieving energy security and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.

L&T Green Hydrogen will collaborate with leading companies in the hydrogen sector, It has already signed a pact with Norway-based electrolyzer and technology manufacturing company Hydrogen Pro, to develop and implement cutting-edge technologies for the production, storage, and transportation of green hydrogen. The subsidiary will also focus on building a skilled workforce and creating a conducive environment for investment in the green hydrogen sector.

In addition to its partnership with Hydrogen Pro, L&T Green Hydrogen will also explore other opportunities for collaboration with companies in the hydrogen sector, including those in the regions of research and development (R&D), infrastructure development, and policy frameworks.

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

NTPC the state-run power utility backed the country's first hydrogen microgrid project at its Simhadri plant in Andhra Pradesh. The company has also set up India's first green hydrogen fueling station in Ley Ladakh. The green hydrogen revolution could be a big game changer for the world as energy prices continue soaring and energy demand continues to be robust. For India, it could be a sure and clean way to ensure energy security.

Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)

The state-run company is geared up to create India’s largest green-hydrogen facility over the next 12-14 months. It aims to increase its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel, as investors increasingly focus on environmental, colonial, and governance (ESG) parameters. 

The previous year, GAIL chairman and managing director Manoj Jain said the company launched a global tender to procure an electrolyzer that could deliver 4.5 tons a day of hydrogen. The company started a first-of-its-kind project of blending hydrogen in the natural gas system at Indore, on a pilot basis.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL)

BPCL has teamed with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to work on alkaline electrolyzer technology for Green Hydrogen production. The company aims to scale up production of the electrolyzer for commercial use, particularly in refineries.

What are the reasons top Indian Companies invest in Green Hydrogen?

There are several reasons why top Indian companies are investing in green hydrogen:

Environmental concerns: 

Green hydrogen is a clean and renewable energy source that does not produce greenhouse gases or other harmful emissions. This makes it an attractive option for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the fight against climate change.

Energy security: 

India heavily depends on fossil fuels for its energy needs, and investing in green hydrogen can help the country reduce its reliance on imported fuels.

Economic benefits: 

Green hydrogen can be used in a variety of applications, including power generation, transportation, and manufacturing. This creates economic opportunities for companies that are involved in the production and distribution of green hydrogen.

Government incentives: 

The Indian government has been actively promoting the use of green hydrogen and has implemented various incentives and subsidies to encourage companies to invest in this technology.

Growing market demand: 

As the global demand for clean and renewable energy sources increases, companies that invest in green hydrogen now will be well-positioned to meet this demand in the future.

Many other companies, such as ReNew Power, ACME Group, and JSW Group, are working towards entering the green-hydrogen ecosystem.

National Green Hydrogen Mission Policy in India

In the first quarter of January 2023(4th of January 2023), the Government of India launched the Green Hydrogen Mission and its policy. The National Green Hydrogen mission has been approved by the Cabinet with an initial outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores. 

The mission aims to promote the production and use of green hydrogen in India, a clean and sustainable energy source. The mission will focus on the development of production facilities, storage, and distribution infrastructure for green hydrogen. It will also provide financial and technical support to industries and businesses to adopt green hydrogen technology. 

The mission will also work towards creating a robust regulatory framework for the Green Hydrogen sector, to ensure its safe and efficient usage. Additionally, the mission will also focus on creating a market for Green Hydrogen by developing a comprehensive strategy for its use in various sectors.

This mission is a major step towards India's goal of achieving energy security and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.

A National Green Hydrogen Mission of India Book, published in January 2023.

In conclusion, the National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to provide a comprehensive action plan for the development and promotion of the Green Hydrogen sector in the country, to support the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy.

 The world has come around to see we need to produce energy as responsibly as possible however, there is one major hurdle that we face when it comes to producing energy through renewable sources intermittently.

Can renewable energy be produced anytime energy is needed? that is a question wind and solar power cannot answer yes to, there is however a breakthrough method of generating energy that neatly solves the intermittency problem that invades wind and solar energy. This game-changing tech is Tidal Energy and is getting many players in the energy industry excited.

Why Tidal energy is 10 times better than wind and solar energy?

Wind and solar energy are great ways to generate the energy they're relatively cheap and do not cause pollution unlike fossil fuel-based generating stations that produce carbon emissions moreover we can't run out of solar or wind power at least not in billion years. However as great as wind and solar energy they have serious drawbacks, they can be affected by environmental seasonal and daily cycles that can limit their use or efficiency as such renewable energy cannot always consistently produce energy at all hours of the day, for example, you can't produce solar energy when the sun has set, this is called intermittency.

Intermittency is a big headache for energy professionals for example solar and wind farms' energy production in Europe has been known to vary between 0 to 23 and 24 gigawatts of energy respectively, during peak times. So these peak production periods provide a large share of energy however sometimes unpredictable lows are the bane of renewables compare this intermittency with the constant power output that can be generated by fossil fuel-based power plants using coal or natural gas and you will see renewable energy Achilles heal energy production companies try to mitigate this inherent flaw with battery solutions. But this only introduces a different set of problems as you shall soon see. This is where tidal energy comes in it is renewable energy that means no damage to the environment and at the same time, it can be available all day and at any time solving the intermittency problem of wind and solar energy.

What is Tidal Energy?

Simply tidal energy is produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tights when the water has risen to its highest level covering much of the shore it's at high tide. When the water falls to its lowest level it's a low tide. Some lakes and rivers can also have types you can thank the sun and the moon because the two celestial bodies responsible for the rise and fall of times how the forces that cause tides are known as tidal constituents, for example, the earth's rotation is a tidal constituent but the major tidal constituent is the moon's gravitational force acting on the earth. The closer objects are the greater the gravitational forces between them and this is why the moon exerts more pull on the planet than the sun does despite being significantly smaller.

So basically the moon is constantly pulling on the earth including on land surfaces. However, land surfaces do not move that much because they are not very flexible they move not more than 55 centimeters a day. But when it comes to the ocean the pull is more dramatic because water is liquid and can respond to gravity more the moon pulls on both the side of the earth facing it and the opposite side. But the greatest force is felt on the side closest to the moon, at the center of the earth the gravitational force is zero. High and low tides come with a degree of accuracy as the earth continues to spin and tidal energy engineers simply take advantage of this phenomenon.

How does Tidal energy work?

The primary maneuver is to harness the kinetic energy created from the rise and fall of ocean tides and currents or tidal flows and turn it into electricity. The larger the tidal range or the height difference between high and low tide sea levels, the more power can be produced. When you want to build a tidal project there are three types that you can choose from.

Tidal Turbine

The first is the tidal turbine which is fairly straightforward it is very similar to wind turbines except that you place them below the water's surface instead of above or on land. So the water's current pushes the blades of the turbine which is connected to a generator and bam you have produced electricity. Tidal turbines can produce much more electricity than wind power plants because water is much denser than air meaning it will move the blades faster. However, the same water's high density also means the tidal turbines need to be much stronger than wind turbines making them more expensive to manufacture. Tidal turbines are large but they have the advantage of causing relatively little disruption to the ecosystem around them. They could cause collision damage like wind turbines however with marine life but the slow speeds of the blades mean it isn't that much of a concern.

Tidal Barrage 

The second type of tidal power project is the tidal barrage here the tidal barrages are actually low-walled dams they're constructed at tidal inlets or estuaries. They're similar to your standard hydroelectric dams because you use sluice gates to form a reservoir on one side of the barrage the barrages attach the sea floor with the top of the barrage just slightly above where the water level hits, during the highest tide you then place your tidal turbines towards the bottom of the barrage inside a tunnel, which lets water pass through the turbines are turned with the incoming and outgoing tides. during an incoming high tide, water flows over the turbines as the water rises then the water flows back through the turbines as it becomes low tide. The turbines are connected to a generator which generates electricity. While tidal barrages are the most efficient way to harvest tidal energy they're also the most costly. Engineers have to construct an entire concrete struct, which adds to the development costs. Also, the barrages have a more serious environmental impact on the surrounding ecosystem than tidal fences or turbines. You are basically building an underwater wall so fish and other sea creatures can't pass through causing a myriad of effects on the local ecosystem.

Tidal Fence

The last type of tidal energy project is the tidal fence which is like a cross between tidal barrages and tidal turbines. Here the vertical tidal fence turn styles are positioned together in what looks like a fence which is why it's called a tidal fence, instead of spinning like a propeller tidal fences spin like a turnstile. You produce electricity by using the energy from tidal currents to spin the turn-style blades which are connected to a generator. Tidal fences have vertical blades that are pushed by moving water these vertical turbines are installed together like a fence, but they don't require the large concrete structure that tidal barrages do. Usually, they'll be installed in between land masses in things like inlets and fast-moving streams they are submerged entirely underwater and have little impact on the surrounding ecosystem.

How do engineers decide if a site is suitable for locating a Tidal energy project?

The fact is that even though water covers two-thirds of the earth's surface not all the nations or regions on the earth are suitable for tidal power projects due to the specific requirements for example the difference between flood tide and herbicide must be minimum of the order of 4.6 meters or above that or the project would not be viable. The volume of water moving around during the tide or the cubature of the tidal flow also matters.

Let's say your preferred site is a place where the tide may go up and down by say around 10 meters but with a minuscule volume of water associated with it. It makes no engineering sense because there is not even energy to spin the blades you must also account for wave actions and storms because these two can be destructive so you must find a way to protect your tidal plant or find another site or you could be spending much of your budget on constructing an embankment your site must not interrupt the flow of normal shipping traffic which passes through the estuary, otherwise it will interrupt the economic cycle of the region. there's also the silt index of water in the factory. However, it is very possible to find suitable sites for tidal energy projects it's worth noting here that the first title projects did not involve electricity production but were used by our ancestors to grind grain. They came to be known as tide mills.

Where was the first Tidal Plant built?

The first modern tidal plant used for generating electricity was built in 1965 in the branch estuary in France, It was on a commercial scale and used 24 turbo generators the plant still produces electricity today from the difference between high and low tides up to 600-gigawatt hours per year evidence that tidal power projects can withstand the test of time. The power from this station is enough to power more than 50000 American homes for a year. 

The second commercial-scale tidal barrage was installed in Nova Scotia in 1982 to highlight the working of the Straflo turbine an invention by Escher Wyss of Switzerland. Despite its initial problems the plant now generates electricity with no issues the largest tidal power project in operation is located on Shiwa lake in South Korea. It has an installed capacity of 254 megawatts. However, it was more than just a power generating plant, it was created to provide reclaimed land for the nearby metropolitan area flood mitigation and secure irrigation water by converting the coastal reservoir to fresh water using a 12.7-kilometer-long sea wall at Joni bay. Let's hear what you think of tidal energy in the comments section below.