Indian Railways eyes cheaper green hydrogen to expand train operations
Indian Railways seeks to expand green hydrogen suppliers and reduce procurement costs. Hydrogen trains have already completed over 2,500 kilometers of commercial operations. The government offers incentives for electrolyzer manufacturing and gre...
New Delhi: The Indian Railways is exploring a host of options, including offtake assurance for manufacturers, to widen the base of green hydrogen suppliers and lower procurement costs. The deliberations follow plans to scale up the running of the new fuel powered trains.
Official estimates said hydrogen trains have completed over 2,500 km of commercial operations till early August, after starting in mid-July this year. "Green hydrogen supply costs need to come down to ensure wider adoption of hydrogen trains," a senior official told ET, adding that various measures were being assessed.
India currently operates the world's most powerful hydrogen train. A dedicated hydrogen manufacturing and supply unit for this train has also been set up. The initial plan is to run 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage routes, usually along hilly corridors where electrification will not be possible.
The Centre is already offering incentives for manufacturing of electrolysers, and production of green hydrogen under a dedicated programme. The National Green Hydrogen Mission also aims to accelerate export opportunities through a ₹17,490 crore outlay up to 2029-30.
The goal is to have domestic green hydrogen production capacity of 5 MMT (million metric tonne) by 2030. In February this year, India recorded its lowest-ever discovered price for green hydrogen at ₹279 (around $3.08) per kg in a tender for a 10,000 tonnes per year supply to Numaligarh Refinery in Assam.
According to former Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, this price is supported by government incentives and cheaper renewable electricity."This milestone boosts cost competitiveness and marks rapid sector progress," he said, adding green hydrogen at USD 2/kg "is not a distant dream anymore."
