Key Takeaways :
1. The ICF project is significant for the Railways as it is one of the key players in India’s mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. An increased use of hydrogen, which is a cleaner fuel, will further reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
2. Indian Railways’ Northern Railway zone has undertaken this project which began in 2020-21. The project has two major components. First, the conversion of two conventional 1600 HorsePower (HP) diesel power cars into hydrogen fuel cell-powered traction system, and second, setting up a hydrogen storage and fuelling facility at Jind in Haryana.
3. The total cost of the project is approximately Rs. 136 crore. The primary design, validation, and testing is being undertaken by Indian Railways’ Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO).
4. It has been planned to operate the hydrogen train between Jind and Sonepat stations of Northern Railway in Haryana, two round-trips of 356 km. The hydrogen storage and fueling facility at Jind will have a storage capacity of 3,000 kg of Hydrogen.
5. Notably, hydrogen fuel technology is still an emerging field in Railways. There are many challenges and safety concerns, too, as hydrogen is a highly flammable gas. As the project involves the retro-fitment of two diesel-powered cars into Hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars, each power car will carry 220 kg of hydrogen, stored in specially designed cylinders at 350 bar pressure. The mounting structure of hydrogen cylinders and fuel cells is critical and for that, multiple rounds of testing are on.
6. Hydrogen is the lightest element. It is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and highly flammable. Due to its typical characteristics, safety remains a point of caution while dealing with hydrogen.
7. The hydrogen train will include safety features such as pressure relief valves, leak detection, flame detection sensors, temperature detection systems, and scientifically designed ventilation.
8. An independent third-party safety auditor – ‘Technischer Überwachungsverein Süd’ (TUV-SUD) of Germany has been roped in for ensuring the safety standards. The engineering design and conversion work is being undertaken at ICF, Chennai by Hyderabad-based Medha Servo Drives.
Hydrogen as a fuel
1. Hydrogen, the most common element in nature, exists only in combination with other elements, and has to be extracted from naturally occurring compounds like water (which is a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). It is a clean molecule, but the process of extracting it is energy intensive.
2. While hydrogen’s potential as a clean fuel source has a history of nearly 150 years, it was only after the oil price shocks of the 1970s that the possibility of hydrogen replacing fossil fuels came to be considered seriously.
3. The sources and processes by which hydrogen is derived are categorised by colour tabs. Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels is called grey hydrogen, which constitutes the bulk of the hydrogen generated today.
4. Hydrogen generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage options is called blue hydrogen, while hydrogen generated using electrolysers powered by renewable power sources is called green hydrogen.
5. There are particular benefits to green hydrogen:
(i) It is a clean burning molecule that can be used to decarbonize a variety of industries, such as transportation, chemicals, and iron and steel.
(ii) Hydrogen can be produced by channelling renewable energy that the grid is unable to store or use.
BEYOND THE NUGGET: National Green Hydrogen Mission
1. The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2023, recognising the role of Green Hydrogen in India’s ambitions of energy independence by 2047 and Net Zero by 2070.
2. Supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), NGHM views Green Hydrogen as a sunrise sector for India. It has the objective of making India a global hub for the production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
3. To achieve these objectives the mission aims to build capacity to produce at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum from 2030.
Post Read Question
With reference to the green hydrogen, consider the following statements:
1. Hydrogen generated using electrolysers powered by renewable power sources is called green hydrogen.
2. Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce 5 million tonnes of the fuel annually from 2050.
3. Green hydrogen can decarbonise iron and steel sector.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
| Answer Key |
| (b), statement 2 is incorrect. |
(Sources: Indian Railways tests first hydrogen-powered coach: What does the project entail?, Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for greener tomorrow, Union Cabinet approves Green Hydrogen Mission: A look at India’s push for the fuel)
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India Railways' first hydrogen-powered coach was tested this week in Chennai. 
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