In a first, NTPC starts supplying hydrogen-blended cooking gas to houses

NTPC Ltd has commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project. The green hydrogen blending has been started in the piped natural gas (PNG) network for households in NTPC’s Kawas township on the outskirts of Surat, the Union Power Ministry informed today.

India has now joined a select group of countries such as the UK, Germany, and Australia to start such a project. Green hydrogen when blended with natural gas reduces CO2 emissions while keeping net heating content the same.

Green hydrogen in Kawas is made by electrolysis of water using power from an already installed 1 MW floating solar project.

The project to supply H2-NG (natural gas) is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) and has been set up on record time after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on 30th July 2022.

After the start of blending operation, NTPC Kawas held awareness workshops for township residents with help of GGL officials.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the regulatory body has given approval for 5% vol./vol. blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with, and the blending level will be scaled in phases to reach 20%.

“The project would bring India at the centre stage of the global hydrogen economy. India would not only reduce its hydrocarbon import bill significantly but can also earn forex by being a green hydrogen and green chemicals exporter to the world,” the official statement said.