Lok Sabha Question No. 1189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Hydrogen as a Fuel
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1189

ANSWERED ON 27.07.2023

## HYDROGEN AS A FUEL

## 1189. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to develop hydrogen as an eco-friendly fuel in the place of petrol, diesel and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the use of hydrogen as an eco-friendly fuel is likely to be started in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has enacted specific rules for the regulation of hydrogen fuel or fuel cells in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any research has been initiated in the country by the Government to introduce any new way of hydrogen generation and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether research and development in the field of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, Hydrogen based CNG and diesel engines along with the development of Hydrogen-powered vehicles are being initiated and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether hydrogen fuel based motorcycle and three wheeler scooters are manufactured and demonstrated and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a)  The Government launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission on 4 th January 2023, with an aim to make India a global hub for production. utilisation and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. The Mission also aims to decarbonise industrial and mobility sector through use of Green Hydrogen as a fuel and industrial feedstock.

The Mission envisages various policy initiatives and financial & non-financial interventions for deployment of Green Hydrogen across certain sectors by 2030, including in the mobility sector.

(b) Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways has notified some regulations regarding use of Hydrogen as fuel. Detailed list is placed as Annexure .

(c)  Traditionally,  Hydrogen  is  produced  using  Steam  Methane  Reforming  and  Coal Gasification  process.  Hydrogen  can  also  be  produced  through  electrolysis  and  biomass conversion.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, under the 'Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme', has inter alia supported the following projects:

- i. Hydrogen generation using biomass gasification for fuel cell application.
- ii. Hierarchical composite nano-structure photo-catalysts for efficient water splitting under solar light irradiation.
- iii. Studies on novel semiconductors towards increasing the efficiency of Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for hydrogen generation.

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Electrolyzer and Electrode for Alkaline Electrolyzer technology have been developed by CSIR-Central Electro-Chemical Research Institute (CSIRCECRI).  CSIR has also launched Hydrogen Technology Program in April 2022 and R&D efforts are underway across CSIR laboratories, on all aspects of hydrogen, namely Production, Storage and Utilization.

Additionally, following initiatives have been undertaken:

- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has developed biomass gasification technology.
- Many universities/R&D institutes have also developed thermochemical cycle processes for hydrogen production.

(d) Yes sir.

Under a Research & Development project supported by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, three Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) and two Hydrogen ICE based mini buses have been developed.

Under the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell (HFC) and Advanced Hydrogen & Fuel Cell (AHFC) and Fuel Cell program, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has supported 4 projects related to research and development in the field of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, Hydrogen based CNG and diesel engines along with the development of Hydrogen-powered vehicles.

(e) Under Research & Development projects supported by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, hydrogen powered three-wheelers and motorcycles have been developed by Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Banaras Hindu University respectively.

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## Annexure-I referred in reply to part (b)  of the Lok Sabha unstarred question no. 1189 to be answered on 27.07.2023

## Regulations notified by Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways:

- i. MoRTH has notified the use of hydrogen as automotive fuel for fuel cell vehicles vide GSR 889 (E) dated 16th September 2016.The specifications for Hydrogen as a reference fuel have been incorporated in Annexure IV-W of Central motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) 1989.
- ii. MoRTH vide  notification,  GSR  885(E)  dated  16th  December  2022,  has  indicated  the specifications of Hydrogen as a reference fuel for ICE BS IV vehicles.
- iii. The  Government  vide  GSR  1151(E)  dated  29th  November,  2018  had  already  notified norms  for  dual  fuel  use  of  CNG/Bio-CNG/LNG  in  Construction  Equipment  Vehicles (CEV). Further, the Government has notified GSR 336(E) dated 4th May, 2021 to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to include retro fitment option for Construction Equipment Vehicles for dedicated CNG/Bio-CNG/LNG operation either by conversion of diesel engines or by replacing the engines.
- iv. In order to promote vehicles operating on hydrogen fuel, MoRTH has issued a notification, vide G.S.R. 889(E), dated 16.09.2016, for use of Hydrogen as an automotive fuel in the country.  The  specifications  for  Hydrogen  for  Internal  Combustion  Engine  have  been mentioned in Annexure IV-W of the said notification.
- v. Further, 18% blend of Hydrogen with CNG (HCNG) has been notified by this Ministry vide GSR 585(E) dated 25th September 2020.
- vi. MoRTH, vide  GSR  579(E)  dated  23rd  September  2020,  has  notified  norms  regarding hydrogen fuel cell motor vehicles with at least four wheels.