Context
In the Budget 2021-22, Ministry of Finance proposed to launch a ‘National Hydrogen Mission’ for generating hydrogen from green power sources
What is expected from this mission?
- The National Hydrogen Mission aims is to develop India into a global hub for manufacturing of hydrogen and fuel cells technologies across the value chain, via suitable incentives and facilitation aligned with ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
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Hydrogen is one of the chemical elements that exist in nature. Hydrogen exists naturally as a molecule, consisting of two hydrogen atoms. The chemical formula of hydrogen is H?.
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How hydrogen is manufactured?
- Steam reforming of ammonia
- From coal/coal gasification, Petroleum coke, methane, biomass etc
- Electrolysis of water
- Radiolysis
- Thermolysis
Why the focus is shifting towards hydrogen?
- Most cars burn petrol or diesel in their engines. These chemical reactions make carbon dioxide and water.Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which means too much of it can promote global warming. Global warming causes climate change, resulting in droughts, floods and extreme weather.
- Hydrogen cars help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- They either burn hydrogen in an engine or they react both hydrogen and oxygen together in a fuel cell.
- Both processes produce electricity which powers an electric motor. Hydrogen cars produce one harmless exhaust gas – water vapour.
What is fuel cell?
- Along with hydrogen, fuel cell is also bursting on to the scene and has the potential to solve some of the biggest problems in energy.
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Other nascent technologies in energy sector
- Marine solar
- Molten salt reactor
- Dynamic Submarine Cable
- UltraBattery
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