NTPC Commissions India’s 1st Green Hydrogen Blending Operation in PNG Network

In an effort towards strengthening footprints in the green hydrogen business in the country, state-owned power generator NTPC has commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project, which has been started in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat.
 
Further, the project is a joint effort of both NTPC and Gujarat Gas Ltd (GGL).
 
The first molecule of green hydrogen from the project was set in motion by P Ram Prasad, head of project, Kawas in the presence of other senior executives of NTPC Kawas and Gujarat Gas Ltd.
 
In this project, the green hydrogen is made by electrolysis of water using power from already installed 1 MW floating solar project.
 
Post the commissioning of the blending operation, NTPC Kawas held awareness workshops for township residents with the help of GGL officials.
 
In July last year, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of the project and since then the two companies have worked relentlessly towards achieving this milestone in record time.
 
This project would supply H2-NG (natural gas) to households of Kawas township at Adityanagar, Surat.
 
Regulatory body Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has given approval for 5 per cent of vol./vol. blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with and the blending level would be scaled phase wise to reach 20 per cent.  Green hydrogen when blended with natural gas reduces CO2 emissions keeping net heating content same.
 
Significantly, this feat is achieved only by few select countries like UK, Germany, and Australia etc. This would bring India at the centre stage of the global hydrogen economy. This move would not only reduce India’s hydrocarbon import bill significantly but can also bring forex ashore by being a green hydrogen and green chemicals exporter to the world.