India has introduced its first multi-purpose green hydrogen project in Himachal Pradesh, unveiling a groundbreaking pilot initiative at the Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri.

Officials from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) announced this significant achievement, with Geeta Kapur, the chairperson and managing director of SJVN, leading the inauguration of the green-hydrogen pilot project.

This innovative project features a 20Nm3/hr electrolyzer and a 25kW fuel cell capacity, making it India's inaugural combined heat and power green-hydrogen generation plant. Its objective extends beyond electricity generation, as it also serves the high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) coating facility of NJHPS.

Green hydrogen production will involve splitting hydrogen and oxygen from water using a 20Nm3/hr alkaline electrolyzer, tapping into renewable energy from SJVN's 1.31 MW solar power plant in Wadhal, Himachal Pradesh. The process's carbon footprint is contingent upon the carbon neutrality of the electricity source, emphasizing the importance of utilizing renewable energy sources.

During its eight-hour operation cycle, the pilot project is projected to produce 14 kg of green hydrogen daily, stored in six storage tanks. This green hydrogen will be instrumental in the HVOF coating of turbine underwater parts and electricity generation through its 25kW fuel cell.

Geeta Kapur underscored the project's alignment with the National Green Hydrogen Mission of the Government of India, highlighting its role in accelerating the development of green hydrogen production infrastructure in the power sector.

In addition to inaugurating the green hydrogen pilot project, Kapur initiated the centralized operation of the 1,500 MW NJHPS and the 412 MW Rampur Hydro Power Station (RHPS). Notably, she remotely operated Unit-2 of RHPS from the NJHPS control room in Jhakri, signaling another technological leap in the hydro-power sector.

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