Will hydrogen change the future of the world? India’s first hydrogen train, green hydrogen technology and smokeless engine have raised new hopes for the energy revolution.
Hydrogen Technology Explained: Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the world. About 75% of the universe is made up of normal matter, hydrogen. However, on Earth it is mostly found in the form of water (H₂O) and other chemical compounds. Therefore it has to be separated before using it. For example, water (H₂O) is a compound, which is made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
Hydrogen is being considered as the cleanest fuel of the future. Its biggest feature is that when it is used in fuel cell, no smoke or carbon dioxide is released. Instead, only water and water vapor are formed.
How is hydrogen made?
There are many methods of making hydrogen, but the most commonly used methods are as follows.
1. Hydrogen from water (Electrolysis): This is considered the cleanest method. In this process, electric flow is conducted in water (H₂O). Due to this the water gets divided into two parts. 1- Hydrogen (H₂), 2- Oxygen (O₂)
If the electricity used in this process comes from solar, wind or water, then it is called Green Hydrogen. Just like electricity is required to charge a mobile, similarly electricity is also required to extract hydrogen from water.
2. Hydrogen from Natural Gas: Today, most hydrogen is made from natural gas. This is called Steam Methane Reforming. This method is cheap, but it releases carbon dioxide. Therefore it is not considered good for the environment.
3. Hydrogen from Coal: In some countries, hydrogen is also produced from coal. However, it has the highest carbon emissions, hence efforts are being made to reduce its use in future.
What is the difference between green, blue and gray hydrogen?
Green Hydrogen: Made from renewable energy and is considered the cleanest. It is also called Clean energy, Sustainable energy. This is energy based on natural sources. This energy never ends. Like- Solar energy, Wind energy, Hydropower/Hydroelectric energy, Geothermal energy,
- Blue Hydrogen: Made from natural gas, but the released CO₂ is captured and stored.
- Gray Hydrogen: Made from natural gas and CO₂ is released directly into the atmosphere.
What is India’s first hydrogen train?
India’s first hydrogen train is a dream project of 140 crore Indians. Its objective is to replace diesel trains with eco-friendly technology. Hydrogen fuel cell has been installed in this train instead of diesel engine. In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce electricity. This runs the engine of the electric train. In this process, no smoke comes out, but only water is produced.
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On which route will India’s hydrogen train run?
The first hydrogen train is running on the Jind-Sonipat section of Haryana.
Why is India’s hydrogen train special?
- Best for the environment.
- Compared to diesel engine, it produces almost zero carbon.
- Not much sound.
- Hydrogen train runs much quieter than diesel train.
- less pollution
- It does not emit smoke and harmful gases.
- future technology
- After Europe, Japan, China and South Korea, now India has also moved ahead in the race of this latest technology.
How does a hydrogen train work?
- Hydrogen gas is filled in the train.
- Hydrogen and oxygen are available in fuel cells.
- This makes electricity.
- Drives the electric engine.
- In the end only water comes out.
It can be understood in this way – a car with a battery runs on charge, but here electricity is generated in the fuel cell while moving.
Is hydrogen train completely safe?
Yes. Hydrogen train has many layers of security.
- High-pressure security tank
- gas leak sensor
- automatic shutdown system
- constant monitoring
What does running hydrogen trains mean for India?
India imports diesel in large quantities every year. If the use of hydrogen trains increases in the future, then…
- Fuel imports will reduce.
- Pollution will be less.
- The carbon footprint of Railways will be reduced.
- Green energy campaign will get a boost.
- The country will become self-reliant in the energy sector.
Some statistics regarding hydrogen train
- A hydrogen propulsion system of approximately 1,200 horse power (HP) power has been developed for India’s first hydrogen train, which is one of the most powerful hydrogen train systems in the world.
- Hydrogen contains about 120 megajoules (MJ/kg) of energy per kilogram, which gives it about 3 times the energy density (by weight) of diesel and petrol.
- The world’s first commercial hydrogen train network, Germany, started regular service in 2022.
- According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about 99% of the hydrogen produced in the world is still produced from fossil fuels; The share of green hydrogen is very small.
- India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce 50 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen every year by 2030.
Content Source: Ministry of Railways India, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), National Green Hydrogen Mission, International Energy Agency (IEA), Indian Railways / RDSO, Hydrogen Council.
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