On the move with green hydrogen , Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Indian Railways announced successful testing of a hydrogen-powered train, developed at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.
• The train will operate on an 89-km route between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana.
• Hydrogen will be produced in Jind by a 1-MW polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyser, generating 430 kg of hydrogen daily.
• This initiative supports the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aiming for 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

Detailed Insights:

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to achieve nationwide net-zero emissions by 2070 through green hydrogen production.
• The train uses fuel cells to convert hydrogen into electricity, powering the train's electric motors, with hydrogen refilled in Jind.
• Electrolysers split water into oxygen, protons, and electrons; the polymer electrolyte membrane allows protons to pass through.
• In the locomotive, hydrogen is split into protons and electrons, which combine with oxygen to form water, generating electricity.
• Green hydrogen production requires electricity from renewable sources like solar panels or wind turbines to power the electrolysers.
• Research explores microbial electrolytic cells using microbes to oxidize organic matter and generate electrons for hydrogen production.
• Efforts are focused on replacing expensive materials like platinum with cheaper alternatives like nickel, cobalt, or iron in catalysis.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Electrolyser: A device that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen using electricity.
• Fuel Cell: A device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (hydrogen) into electricity.
• Polymer Electrolyte Membrane: A selective membrane allowing only protons to pass through, crucial for hydrogen production.