16 April 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. India, rising power demand and the ‘hydrogen factor’
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
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Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Infrastructure – Energy |
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Context |
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Need for Electrification and Hydrogen in a Net-Zero Economy
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- To achieve a net-zero economy, massive electrification of all energy uses is necessary.
- Fossil fuels are not only used for generating electricity but also for providing heat and essential molecules in industries.
- For example, carbon from coal is used in steel production, and hydrogen from natural gas is used to produce ammonia for fertilizers.
- In the steel industry, hydrogen can replace carbon, supporting the move towards net-zero emissions.
- Therefore, electrification of energy use and hydrogen adoption in industries are key steps toward decarbonization.
Growing Power Demand and Nuclear Expansion Plans
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- As India moves towards becoming a developed nation with net-zero emissions, electricity demand is expected to rise sharply.
- Solar, wind, and hydro energy sources alone cannot meet this demand. Nuclear energy is necessary as part of the energy mix.
- India aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power installed capacity by 2047.
- Currently, several 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) are operational or under construction across the country.
- A total of 26 PHWR units of 700 MW are planned, showcasing a significant nuclear power expansion.
- Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) of 220 MW are also being proposed for captive use by public sector enterprises.
Role of Low-Carbon Energy Sources
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- In the future, electricity from low-carbon sources like hydro, nuclear, solar, and wind will increase.
- Solar and wind are intermittent, while nuclear is ideal as a base-load power source.
- Presently, coal-fired plants are adjusted (flexed) to match demand during solar energy availability.
- This helps reduce emissions but flexing is not suitable for nuclear plants due to high capital cost and technical challenges.
Hydrogen Production as a Better Alternative to Flexing
- Flexing nuclear plants is expensive and technically difficult.
- Instead, surplus electricity from solar, wind, or nuclear sources can be used to produce hydrogen using electrolysers.
- This approach avoids the need to flex power plants and also reduces the need for large-scale battery storage.
- Electrolysers are low-cost and flexible in operation. Hydrogen thus produced is used in industries, not reconverted to electricity.
Incentives and New Classification for Hydrogen
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- The government currently incentivizes “green hydrogen” made using solar and wind electricity.
- A certification scheme defines green hydrogen as having emissions below 2 kg CO₂/kg H₂.
- Since nuclear and renewable hydrogen have similar life-cycle emissions, it is proposed to change the classification to “low-carbon hydrogen” to include nuclear-based hydrogen.
Need for Integration of Hydrogen and Electricity Storage
- Currently, hydrogen production and electricity storage are treated separately.
- These two need to be combined to improve cost efficiency.
- Case studies show that integrating battery storage and hydrogen production can improve overall economics.
Policy Recommendations
- Redefine “green hydrogen” as “low-carbon hydrogen” based on emission thresholds.
- Encourage synergy between electricity storage systems and hydrogen production to enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs.
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Practice Question: Discuss the role of nuclear energy and hydrogen in achieving India’s net-zero emission goals. How can their integration improve energy security and efficiency? (250 Words /15 marks) |
Read more – 15 April 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
