• NTPC has started India’s first green hydrogen blending operation in the PNG (piped natural gas) network of its township in Kawas, Surat. 

• The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL). 

• Green hydrogen when blended with natural gas reduces CO2 emissions keeping the net heating content the same. 

• This project is geared up to supply H2-NG (natural gas) to households of Kawas township at Adityanagar, Surat. 

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

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

• Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the regulatory body, has approved 5 per cent vol/vol blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with, and the blending level would be scaled phase-wise to reach 20 per cent.

• This would bring India to the centre stage of the global hydrogen economy. India would not only reduce its hydrocarbon import bill significantly but can also bring forex ashore by being a green hydrogen and green chemicals exporter to the world.

NTPC

• NTPC, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, was established in 1975.

• It is India’s largest power utility with an installed capacity of 70,884 MW (including JVs). It has 71 power stations including 29 renewable projects. 

• NTPC has set a target to install 60 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2032.

• From fossil fuels it has forayed into generating electricity via hydro, nuclear and renewable energy sources. 

• NTPC is India’s first energy company to declare its energy compact goals as part of the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).

• To strengthen its core business, the corporation has diversified into the fields of consultancy, power trading, training of power professionals, rural electrification, ash utilisation and coal mining as well.

• NTPC became a Maharatna company in May 2010.

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