SETTING stage for expanding its footprint into arena of green energy, State-run Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Limited (MSPGCL) is eyeing the green hydrogen to channelise its thermal production. Hydrogen is used as a coolant for the generator to stabilise power generation and herein MahaGenco hopes to lower its carbon footprint by tapping green hydrogen.

A pilot project is being setup at BhusawalThermal Power Station, where green hydrogen is planned to derive coolant that is used for the generator to stabilise the heat. However, the process of getting coolant releases green houses gases that is an area of concern world over owing to its impact on ozone layer. Hence, MahaGenco is betting on green hydrogen which has lower carbon emission in comparison to gray hydrogen that is more commonly used at thermal power plants. This is first part of drive to move over to more sustainable means of power production given the focus on climate change and action plan envisaged to cut down carbon emission in country. As the motto adopted is totalgreen, even the energy needed to run the hydrogen plantis going to be sourced fromground mounted solar planthence it’s called green hydrogen. At Bhusawal TPS, MahaGenco has set target forderiving 20 Nm3/hr hydrogengas, it has purity of 99..99 percent. The MahaGenco officialsexplained that electrolysisprocess produces hydrogenand in its production when fossils fuels are utilised it is calledas gray hydrogen. Since at Bhusawal TPS, solar power isbeing tapped for productionof hydrogen it will be green hydrogen.

The gray hydrogen burning emits carbon waste and hence the switch to green hydrogen as the base for getting energy would be renewable one, here solar is going to be utilised. Further the switch over to green hydrogen is part of initiative of Central Government that is batting for lowering carbon emissions. Further advantage of using renewable energy is that same can be stored for a period of 30-days. Explaining the project, Yashwant Mohite, a spokesperson for MahaGenco, said the green hydrogen use is in primary stage as this is a total new area for the company. Only after few years of continuous use, we can think of diversifying into energy generation using hydrogen after duly analysing the benefits and other aspects.

At present the green hydrogen plant is mean to supplement the actual thermal power production wherein MahaGenco is one of the leaders in the country. Similarly, Central Government also provides incentive to promote green hydrogen including wavier of inter-state energy transmission charges, flexibility to source renewable energy fro exchange or co-location RE plant, allotment of land in renewable energy parks and so on. A major advantage with green hydrogen is that it can be stored thus providing flexibility of energy use at required time. Moreover it also helps in decarbonising sector which in turns ensures lesser damage to the climate. As to solar plant its capacity is pegged at 500 kW (AC) and total cost of project is pegged at Rs. 12.97 crores and by year end the hydrogen plant is likely to be brought on stream, hopes the officials of MahaGenco. MahaGenco officials said in future similar green hydrogen plant are planned to be set-up at Koradi and Chandrapur, the two big thermal power houses.