Green Hydrogen Standard for India

 The government has notified the Green Hydrogen Standard for India. The standard issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India outlines the emission thresholds that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’, i.e., from renewable sources. The scope of the definition encompasses both electrolysis-based and biomass-based hydrogen production methods. After discussions with multiple stakeholders, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has decided to define Green Hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission (i.e., including water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying and compression of hydrogen) of not more than 2 kg CO2 equivalent / kg H2.

The notification specifies that a detailed methodology for measurement, reporting, monitoring, on-site verification, and certification of green hydrogen and its derivatives shall be specified by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.

Download the notification

From Lexology post:

In U.S., as per the Clean Hydrogen Production Standard proposal, “clean hydrogen” is defined as hydrogen generated with a carbon intensity not exceeding 2 (two) kilograms of carbon dioxide-equivalent emitted at the production site per kilogram of hydrogen produced. Although, for the purpose of tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, “qualified clean hydrogen,” refers to hydrogen with a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions rate no higher than 4 (four) kilograms of carbon dioxide-equivalent emitted at the production site per kilogram of hydrogen.

In the EU, a much more liberal definition of green hydrogen has been adopted. The European Commission has set the fossil benchmark at 94 (ninety four) g carbon dioxide-equivalent per megajoule. For hydrogen, this translates to 3.38 (three point three eight) tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions at the production site per tonne of hydrogen produced. Notably, hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels exceeding this limit are not automatically excluded as renewable fuels, yet they cannot contribute to the renewable energy targets of member States.

In the UK, to demonstrate compliance with the low carbon hydrogen standard, producers of low carbon hydrogen must be able to report a green-house gas emissions intensity of 20 (twenty) carbon dioxide equivalents per megajoule of produced hydrogen or less, which is equivalent to 2.4 (two point four) kilograms of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions at the production site per kilogram of hydrogen produced.

Chinese Solar Mission

Chinese strategy in solar PV focussed on utilisation, manufacture and research with a synergistic policy. Interesting from Indian perspective as tend to see as all three components as mutually exclusive. Excerpts from UNU-MERIT working paper'  Diverse and uneven pathways towards transition to low carbon development: The case of diffusion of solar PV technology in China, Michiko Iizuka, (wp2014-002).

China (as of 2012) has the largest capacity for renewable power generation in the world, followed by the USA and Germany, and is one of the five largest countries in the world in terms of capacity for producing the following types of renewable energy: bio‐power (3rd), hydropower (1st), solar PV (4th), wind power (1st), solar water collection (1st), geothermal (2nd) in 2012 (REN21, 2013). 

As for manufacturing capacity, several Chinese firms, such as Goldwind, Sinovel and Migyang for wind energy and Yingli Green Energy and Trina Solar – to name a few – for solar PV, are considered the dominant players in the global export market for both wind turbine and solar PV respectively. The growing presence of China in terms of capacity to generate and manufacture renewable energy is accompanied by a growing capacity to innovate as the result of conscious efforts made by both private and public sectors.

The growing manufacturing capacity demonstrated by China’s export performance was accompanied by increasing technological efforts. Both government and firms attempted to close the technological gap with OECD countries. The results of these efforts can be observed from the rapid increase of indigenous R&D. Between 1996 and 2008, central government R&D appropriation for renewable energy increased from RMB 21.1 billion (US$2.5 billion) to RMB104.8 billion (US$15.2 billion), while expenditure by regional governments for the same purpose increased from RMB 7.8 billion (US$940 million) to RMB 105.7 billion (US$15.4billion) (Cao and Groba, 2013). 

 Parallel to such technological efforts, Chinese firms relied on the acquisition of foreign technologies using turnkey cell and module production lines and capital goods from the late 1990s to the early 2000s (de la Tour et al., 2011). During this time, the manufacturing activities of Chinese solar PV firms were concentrated on ‘easy‐to‐enter’ but ‘low‐profit‐margin’ activities of cell and module production. Subsequently, these firms’ cumulative efforts at in‐house R&D were complemented by strategies of joint R&D with universities and research institutes, as well as setting up overseas R&D facilities with government inducements for acquiring technology. Such R&D focused on crystalline silicon, which was the dominant technology at that time. Although the strongest presence of Chinese firms is still in downstream activities, i.e. cell and module production, firms have also invested in upstream activities such as the processing of silicon feedstock.

India adopted early- to- start and fast- to -vacate policy in solar PV too, established CEL in 1974, supported research regularly with small grants to IITs and increased utilisation of PV with Solar Mission.

OHIO ENERGY 2011

SkyQuest is leading a technology exploration mission from India to the US to‘OHIO ENERGY 2011 - Advanced Energy B2B Conference & Expo’ and those joining the mission get waiver on registration fee. Conference dates, September 14-15th, 2011.Ohio is leading the USA’s Great Lakes initiatives in offshore wind development, a major center for Solar and photovoltaics research in the U.S, one of the major U.S. centers for Fuel Cell research and development, home to some of the world's leading manufacturers, research institutions,   utilities and development organizations in Advanced Energy.
Contact:Ms. Kathak Mehta kathak.mehta@skyquestventures.com | 079-4005 4111
Ms. Neha Jhala neha.jhala@skyquestt.com | 079-4005 4110  

Tata group makes strategic investment in Sun Catalytix

Business Standard carried the news that Tata group is investing millions of dollars in Sun Catalytix — an energy storage and renewable fuels company — founded by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor, Daniel Nocera. The aim is to introduce a low-cost solar contraption to power homes for the poor, primarily in developing countries like India.

The research was carried out by MIT Prof Daniel Nocera and initial research was funded by  National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Sun Catalytix, founded by Daniel Nocera, received a $700,000 seed investment led by Polaris Ventures.Development continued to replace costly catalyst and the Indian firm with vision - Tata invested in the start-up. Many Chinese firms made such strategic investments but this is the first by an Indian firm. 

What is the role Indian/ Chinese origin students/ faculty play in accessing promising technologies at fluid stage?

Renewables 2010: Global Status Report

The report prepared by Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, 2010 can be downloaded from:

http://www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/REN21_GSR_2010_full.pdf

This report was commissioned by REN21 and produced in collaboration with a global network of research partners. Financing was provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety (BMU); and the U.S. Department of State.

The Delhi international Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC 2010) will take place in New Delhi 27-29th October 2010.Details:

http://www.direc2010.gov.in/

Hybrid Renewable energy solutions

Green Field Power Services is specialising in offering hybrid solutions, grid connected and grid independent. For details see: www.greenfieldspower.com

Ambicales

Ambicales is a start-up promted by Sudhir Manchanda and Mayank Agarwal, of IIT Roorkee. Service offerings:

Biomass energy: To replace oil consumption in thermal applications and power generation in industries. Wind energy: Help in making an informed decision to choose the best project from among the various options from different companies. Solar energy: Power plants (both PV and Steam route) and Industrial applications. Energy Efficiency: Expertise in thermal processes and waste heat recovery solutions. Carbon Strategy: Carbon Footprinting, Mitigation measures and leveraging the Green Brand.

Renewable Energy Search

Renewable Energy Search is an endeavor by CIIE (IIM Ahmedabad) and MNRE (Government of India) to identify, encourage and incubate entrepreneurial ideas aimed at solving the energy crisis through use of existing clean energy related research. Support is available for Start-ups, Entrepreneur In Residence (EIR) and for Innovators. For details: http://www.re-search.in/

Intelizon Energy Pvt. Ltd.

The start-up firm promoted by Dr Kushant Uppal , backed by Emergic Venture Capital, Ventureeast Tenet is ready with its first product-Zonlight. LEDs powered with Lithum Ion battery and solar recharged costs Rs 700/- and gives 125 lux.

India International Recycle & Waste Management exhibition

India's first comprehensive Recycle and waste management event- INDIA INTERNATIONAL RECYCLE & WASTE MANAGEMENT EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE' 2008 will be held FROM 16-18 August, 2008 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. It will showcase advanced technologies, equipments & services on solid waste collection, handling, transporting, recycle, waste-to energy and REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE-REPRODUCE solutions.
For details contact:

Gagandeep Kaur

Sr. Programme Officer, IIRWM 2008

India Recycle & Waste Management Co.,

Mobile # 9818428461

e-mail: gagan.iirwm2008@gmail.com; info@iirwm.com

Website: http://www.iirwm.com

Renewable energy India 2008

Renewable Energy India 2008 Expo , will be held in Delhi from 21st to 23rd August 2008 , will display innovations in the renewable sector.The event is supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and has attracted 190 exhibitors from 20 countries. For details see:
http://www.renewableenergyindiaexpo.com/