Lok Sabha Question No. 2440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Hydrogen Generation by ONGC
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: FEROZE VARUN GANDHI

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2440

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017 Hydrogen Generation by ONGC

## 2440.    SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

पेट्रो ल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Corporation  Limited  has  received  patent  from  United  States  of America for hydrogen generation process and if so, the details thereof along with the likely benefits of  the  said  development  to  increase  use  of  clean  and  efficient  energy  in  transportation  and  power generation process;
- (b) the challenges envisaged by the Government in power generation through the said source; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes for monetisation of the said proposal and if so, the details thereof along with action taken in this regard?

## Answer

पेट्रो ल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( स्विंत्र प्रभार )

( श्री धमेंद्र प्रधान )

## MINISTER OF STATE(INDEPNDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a)  to  (c)  ONGC  Energy  Centre  Trust  (OECT)  set  up  by  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Corporation  (ONGC) Limited, jointly with the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai received three patents relating to Hydrogen generation process in United States of America. The details of the three patents are as under:

|   Sl. No. | Patent title                                                                                        | US Patent No. and date         |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|         1 | Hydrogen Production Method by Multi-Step Copper-Chlorine Thermochemical Cycle                       | US 8968697 B2 Date: 03.03.2015 |
|         2 | Electrochemical Cell used for the Production of Copper using Cu-Cl Thermochemical Cycle             | US 9447512 B2 Date: 20.09.2016 |
|         3 | Effect of operating Parameters on the Performance of Electrochemical Cell in Copper- Chlorine Cycle | US 9487876 B2 Date: 08.11.2016 |

This patented process is based on Thermochemical Splitting of Water to produce Hydrogen that involves high temperatures. Solar energy is to be used as the heat source for the Thermochemical process. The demonstration  of  hydrogen  production  process  using  solar  heat  and  heat  storage  is  yet  to  be  done  by OECT and ICT. Hydrogen is a carrier of energy and can be used to produce electricity through Fuel Cells for use in transportation and also for power generation in a clean manner. Hydrogen can also be used in IC engines.

There  are  several  challenges  including  cost  effectiveness  and  long  life  fuel  cells  for  use  in  stationary power generation. The other challenges relate to storage, transportation and dispensation of hydrogen, optimization of IC engines etc.

So far the Thermochemical Splitting of Water to produce Hydrogen has not been commercially exploited anywhere in the world. At present, there is no specific proposal for monetization of the process, as more development is still required.

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