How can India tap its natural hydrogen potential?, Pg10

• India’s hydrogen demand is projected to rise from 6 MT/year in 2020 to over 50 MT/year by 2070 to meet its net-zero targets.

  • Natural hydrogen offers a cost-effective, low-carbon alternative to manufactured hydrogen, potentially reducing energy dependency.

  • Recent geological studies point to India having 4.3–475 million tonnes of natural hydrogen reserves.

How much potential exists?

• Based on predictive geological modelling, India may not need to manufacture hydrogen extensively if its natural deposits are tapped.

  • A comprehensive exploration strategy factoring geological, tectonic, and hydrocarbon indicators is necessary.

What are the key challenges?

• Technical: Identifying subsurface hydrogen, especially in hard-to-access geologies, is complex.

  • Logistical: Requires modern drilling infrastructure, remote sensing, and transportation pipelines.

  • Economic: Drilling and adaptation costs, lack of established hydrogen-specific pipelines.

  • Safety: Hydrogen is highly diffusive, requiring resistant materials, coatings, and specialised equipment.

How can India kickstart this?

• Learn from Germany’s SRRA program that used solar radiation monitoring stations to predict sub-surface hydrogen locations.

  • Collaborate with the Oil and Gas Exploration industry and DG Hydrocarbons to map reserves and retrofit gas pipelines for hydrogen.

  • Consider public-private partnerships for early-stage exploration, similar to models in the U.S. and EU.

Scientific Concepts Involved:

• Geologic Hydrogen: Naturally occurring H₂ produced by rock-water reactions, decaying radioactive elements, or trapped in underground reservoirs.

  • Hydrogen Seep Detection: Using seismic, geochemical, and thermal imaging to locate micro-seeps of H₂.

  • Carbon Sequestration Link: Emerging tech may allow for simultaneous hydrogen production and CO₂ capture.

Significance:

• Natural hydrogen presents an energy-secure and climate-positive solution, aiding India’s transition to a clean economy.

  • Can reduce import dependency, fuel hydrogen-based industry clusters, and spur green innovation.

  • Helps diversify the energy basket and create global hydrogen supply leadership.

Mains Mock Question:

"Discuss the potential and challenges of exploiting natural hydrogen as a sustainable energy source for India. How can India develop a roadmap for commercial exploration and extraction of this emerging resource?"