Hydrogen Energy

Why in news?

• Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the will be launched in 2021-22, during her budget speech February 1, 2021.

About Hydrogen Energy:

• Hydrogen is a clean fuel and it could serve as a possible substitute to liquid and fossil fuels.
• It is a nontoxic, odorless and highly combustible making it a potentially great energy source.
• Hydrogen can be created by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen or by breaking the chemical bonds from compounds.
• Currently, global hydrogen production is 48% from natural gas, 30% from oil, and 18% from coal; water electrolysis accounts for only 4%.
• India’s mission will aim to create hydrogen from renewable energy sources.
• Hydrogen can fuel cells in zero-emission electric vehicles and the fuel cell  has the potential for high efficiency. In fact, a fuel cell coupled with an electric motor is two to three times more efficient than an internal combustion engine running on gasoline.
• Hydrogen can also serve as fuel for internal combustion engines.

Advantages

• It is readily available, is renewable and is efficient.
• It doesn’t produce harmful emissions and is environmentally friendly.
• It is both powerful and efficient and can provide power for powerful machines such as spaceships.
• It is renewable. It can be produced again and again, unlike other non-renewable sources of energy. This means that with hydrogen, you get a fuel source that is limited. Basically, hydrogen energy can be produced on demand.

Disadvantages

• It is expensive and difficult to store.
• It is not easy to replace existing infrastructure.
• It is highly flammable.
• It is dependent on fossil fuels currently.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements on Hydrogen Energy:
1.Currently production of Hydrogen is dependent of fossil fuels.
2.Hydrogen is highly flammable.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question