"GAIL Unveils 10 MW Green Hydrogen Facility in Madhya Pradesh"

GAIL (India) Ltd has marked a significant milestone with the commissioning of its inaugural green hydrogen plant in Vijaipur, Madhya Pradesh, signaling a notable stride in the nation's largest natural gas transmission and distribution firm's venture into new and alternative energy sources.

Imported from Canada, the 10-megawatt proton exchange membrane electrolyser stands as the backbone of this green-hydrogen producing unit located at the Vijaipur complex.

Capable of churning out approximately 4.3 tonnes of green hydrogen daily, boasting an impressive purity level of about 99.999 per cent by volume, the plant operates by utilizing electricity derived from renewable sources like solar energy to facilitate the water-splitting process, yielding green hydrogen.

In line with the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to achieve a 5 million-ton annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030, GAIL's initiative aligns with the nation's heightened emphasis on hydrogen as an alternative fuel to mitigate carbon emissions while catering to its burgeoning energy demands.

Initially, the produced hydrogen will be utilized alongside natural gas for internal purposes within various processes and equipment at the existing Vijaipur plant. Additionally, GAIL plans to distribute this hydrogen to retail customers in nearby regions, facilitated by high-pressure cascades.

To ensure a sustainable power supply for the electrolyzer, GAIL is not only procuring renewable energy through open access but is also in the process of establishing approximately 20 MW solar power plants, encompassing both ground-mounted and floating variants, within the Vijaipur vicinity.

While GAIL is conducting experimental blending of hydrogen with natural gas in its CGD (city gas distribution) network in Indore to evaluate its viability, the company aims to scale up blending ratios pending necessary approvals, despite prevailing regulations allowing for only a 5 per cent hydrogen blend with natural gas.

To further explore hydrogen blending possibilities, GAIL is collaborating with Engineers India Limited and IIT Kanpur through joint studies, indicating the company's commitment to innovation and sustainability in the energy landscape.

HBL