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HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Development and Challenges

atisfying energy demands forms an integral Why Hydrogen
part of the development of the world. Growing
Sconcerns over climate change, especially finding Hydrogen has the potential to transform the energy
an alternate means of energy sources to the present sector by contributing to a sustainable energy future.
fossil fuels, has increased hydrogen interest. Hydrogen Global climate change and emission concerns can
is a flexible and alternative energy carrier with potential be addressed at both ends of the value chain, i.e.,
applications across all energy sectors, significantly hydrogen production and hydrogen user. In both
impacting economic and social development in the ways, Hydrogen can be used as a reinforcing catalyst
low-carbon economy. Hydrogen is considered a clean to connect to the energy systems. First, technological
energy source and a viable alternative to fossil fuels to advancements to hydrogen production methods may
control emissions as it can be produced from renewable make it economically feasible by shifting the focus of
sources. Hydrogen has the potential to reduce India’s hydrogen production from fossil fuels to production
dependence on oil imports as several fossil fuel-based using a cleaner or renewable sources. Secondly, several
applications can be replaced by Hydrogen. applications that presently use fossil fuel as sources of
energy can be replaced with Hydrogen.
Typically, Hydrogen has the highest mass-energy
density amongst other commonly used fuels and has Hydrogen in its pure form can be possibly used
an advantage for using it as a fuel or for energy storage.
However, exploitation of Hydrogen for using it as an as a fuel for transportation
alternate energy option requires the development of a for electricity generation
new hydrogen infrastructure which primarily consists of
(a) Production (b) Storage and (c) Distribution. as a combustion fuel in industrial boilers and
Development of such an infrastructure poses several furnaces, and
technological challenges that must be overcome
before it can be employed economically and safely in residential sectors for heating/cooling.
in various sectors on a commercial scale. This paper
briefly highlights the issues associated with hydrogen
infrastructure development.

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