NHPC to Start Green Hydrogen Project in Himachal Pradesh

The public sector enterprise in India, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the district administrator of Chamba, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, to develop green hydrogen technology to produce hydrogen.

NHPC Renewable Energy Limited (NREL), a subsidiary of NHPC, will execute the project. AK Singh, CMD of NHPC, and DC Rana, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chamba, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur and other senior officials of the state government and the company.

NHPC, in a statement, said, "The MoU is for the development of green hydrogen technologies... As per the MoU, NHPC shall develop a pilot green hydrogen mobility project, including hydrogen production. NHPC shall upscale hydrogen production on a commercial scale to supply the hydrogen needs...for sectors like mobility, transportation, heating, micro grid."

AK Pathak, CEO of NREL, over a telephonic conversation, said: "Under the project, a 300-kilowatt solar plant will be set up, and its energy will be utilised for electrolysis of water to generate green hydrogen. Further hydrogen will be stored in cylinders in compressed form, which will use to run vehicles."

He further said this is a pilot project of the state of Himachal Pradesh. If it becomes successful, an additional MoU will be signed with the state government for the whole state.