In a significant move towards enhancing India's green hydrogen ecosystem, the government has launched a detailed study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and reliability of transporting green hydrogen through dedicated pipelines from renewable energy zones to ports. This step is seen as part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on traditional transmission lines and explore cost-efficient alternatives for domestic consumption and export.
"We are considering two options for green hydrogen transport. One is transferring power from renewable energy zones such as Rajasthan to port areas through transmission lines, and the other is using a pipeline network," said Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). He informed that a team comprising GAIL, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), NTPC, and CEA is examining these possibilities, given the challenges posed by large-scale transmission lines.
Prasad explained that in a recent preliminary study covering the route from Rajasthan to Paradip port, pipelines were found to be a cheaper alternative to transmission lines, which led to further exploration of the pipeline option for green hydrogen transport.
This study also aligns with the government's push to curb reliance on Chinese imports and strengthen India's domestic green hydrogen production capacity. The Indian government has made green hydrogen a cornerstone of its energy transition plan, aiming to establish the country as a global hub for green hydrogen production.
The ministry of power and the petroleum and natural gas regulatory board (PNGRB) are closely involved in these efforts. In March 2024, PNGRB indicated it was assessing the feasibility of using the country's existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport by blending it with natural gas. India has an authorized natural gas pipeline network of around 33,000 km, with 24,000 km operational, providing a potentially vast infrastructure for green hydrogen transport.
According to experts, transporting hydrogen via pipelines offers a more affordable solution for moving large volumes of the gas. However, the process poses technical challenges, including the embrittlement of steel and welds used in pipelines, hydrogen permeation, and the need for durable compression technology.
The study, being conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, will map demand and supply for hydrogen, assess technical compatibility of existing pipelines, and analyze commercial feasibility. The government is also focusing on addressing policy and regulatory bottlenecks while framing a roadmap for green hydrogen development until 2040. Earlier studies conducted by Engineers India Limited (EIL) and IIT Kanpur had suggested that up to 3% green hydrogen could be safely blended into existing city gas distribution (CGD) pipelines without any adverse effects. This is seen as a step towards gradually scaling up hydrogen blending in India's gas network.
The move to explore green hydrogen pipeline transport comes at a time when India is pushing forward with its ambitious energy transition goals. The government aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, with green hydrogen playing a key role in that transition. As the global push for cleaner energy solutions intensifies, India's leadership in green hydrogen could not only bolster domestic energy security but also position the country as a key player in the global green energy market. With countries worldwide ramping up efforts to combat climate change, green hydrogen transport infrastructure will be crucial in achieving India's net-zero emissions target by 2070.
