State-run NTPC Ltd has awarded India’s first green hydrogen microgrid project in Andhra Pradesh.
Highlights
- The project has been awarded at the Simhadri plant of NTPC Ltd. in Andhra Pradesh.
- NTPC will involve in “Standalone Fuel-cell based Microgrid along with hydrogen production using electrolyzer” project at NTPC Simhadri.
- India has also planned to call bids to build 4 gigawatt (GW) of electrolyzer capacity under its energy security strategy.
Green Hydrogen Mobility project
- For a green hydrogen mobility project, NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has also signed a pact with Union territory of Ladakh.
- This project will be executed by NTPC in association with the NVVN.
How Green Hydrogen is produced?
Green hydrogen is produced by separating water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyzer, which is powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Green Hydrogen as fuel can be a game-changer for India’s energy security. India currently imports 85% of its oil and 53% of gas requirements.
Significance of the project
- This project will act as a precursor to large scale hydrogen energy storage projects. It will also be useful to study and deploy multiple microgrids in several off-grid and strategic locations in India.
- This project has been designed in-house by NTPC.
- It would open doors for decarbonising the far-off regions in India like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
- Project has been implemented in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to become carbon neutral by 2070 and make Ladakh a carbon-neutral territory.
Installed Capacity of NTPC
Across 70 power projects, NTPC has an installed capacity of around 67.907 GW. 18 GW projects are under construction. NTPC has aimed to generate 60 GW renewable energy capacity by 2032 from the current capacity of 4.7 GW.
Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant
It is a coal-fired power plant, established in Visakhapatnam city of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the coal fired power plants of NTPC. Coal for this power plant is sourced from Kalinga Block of Talcher Coal fields in Odisha. It is a national asset, and power generated is shared between multiple states.