In India’s largest energy conglomerate under the Ministry of Power, NTPC Limited, Bloom Energy announced that its electrolyzer and hydrogen-powered fuel cell technologies have been selected for the country’s first green hydrogen-based energy storage installation.
Off-grid hydrogen energy storage and microgrid projects at strategic locations across India are being investigated as part of India’s pledge to be carbon neutral by the year 2070.
For its holistic, comprehensive and efficient technology ecosystem encompassing green hydrogen production and carbon-free power, Bloom Energy (India) Private Limited was chosen. There is a good chance that the initial collaboration between NTPC and Bloom Energy India will pave the way for further collaboration in the future.
Using Bloom Energy’s solid-oxide, high-temperature electrolyzer, a floating solar farm near the collaboration will produce green hydrogen. NTPC’s Guest House, a local lodging for NTPC employees and guests, will be powered by Bloom Energy’s hydrogen fuel cells, which will convert the hydrogen into carbon-neutral electricity without combustion. Simhadri, Visakhapatnam, India, is expected to see construction begin in 2022.
The Bloom Energy electrolyzer and hydrogen fuel cells, along with the solar farm, are intended to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Businesses, residential neighborhoods, dense urban areas, and remote and island communities could benefit from the combination of long-term clean energy storage and resilient power.
There are aggressive plans in place in India to ensure grid stability while moving toward renewable energy and storage capacity. For renewable energy, hydrogen is a natural complement because it can be used to generate pollution-free, reliable power that can be stored for an extended period of time.
“Reducing carbon emissions is the number one priority in the fight against climate change, and green hydrogen will be critical to India’s decarbonization objectives,” said Venkat Venkataraman, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Bloom Energy. “Bloom’s technology is well-positioned to help India transition to a net-zero, hydrogen-powered economy, and we are excited to collaborate with NTPC to bring the country’s first green hydrogen microgrid to life. The powerful combination of Bloom’s high-efficiency electrolyzers and fuel cells enables the highest possible round trip efficiency with green hydrogen for energy storage.”
When compared to PEM and alkaline electrolyzers, Bloom Energy’s high-temperature electrolyzers are more efficient at generating hydrogen. The Bloom Electrolyzer uses less energy to break down water molecules and produce hydrogen because it operates at higher temperatures. About 80% of the cost of producing hydrogen from electrolysis is accounted for by electricity. Hydrogen production will become more cost-effective as a result, which will lead to a faster adoption rate.
To produce electricity, Bloom Energy Servers use an electrochemical reaction to combine ambient air and a fuel source such as natural gas or biogas. This results in reduced carbon emissions and harmful pollutants in the air as well as reduced water use compared to grid alternatives. Bloom Energy Servers emit no carbon when hydrogen is used as a fuel source.
