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A team of researchers at the Banaras Hindu University has introduced an innovative quantum-backed green hydrogen production technology with high throughput capabilities. It can significantly enhance the large-scale production of green hydrogen.
During the inaugural ceremony, Dr Somenath Garai and Prof S. Srikrishna, part of the team, demonstrated the applications of green hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy alternative. They unveiled a cutting-edge quantum-powered photo-catalyst featuring a charge transfer system, combined with high proton availability and mobility. This breakthrough technology offers quantum catalytic solutions for energy generation.
The patent is currently awaiting approval. It is being developed under the project titled “Boosting the H2 Economy by Harnessing the Merits of Quantum Encapsulation Chemistry: Augmented Kinetics for Water Splitting Reaction Under Confinement,” as part of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell programme within the Clean Energy Research Initiative.
The state-of-the-art photochemical reactor design features built-in illumination assembly and external concave reflective panels to maximise the capture of solar energy. The team has engineered a continuous electron coupled proton supply system, driven by an electron injector mechanism using industrial metal waste. After rigorous refinements and adjustments, the maximum rate of green hydrogen production at the lab scale was achieved to be about 1 litre/min per 10 g of quantum photocatalysts.
Due to the high purity of the hydrogen gas generated, it can be directly used as a fuel without requiring additional purification steps. It significantly improves the cost-effectiveness of the technology. The project holds the potential for a broad range of applications spanning various sectors, including energy production, transportation, and agriculture.
The team has envisioned internal combustion engine technologies that can utilize hydrogen without the need for hydrogen storage, and they have successfully demonstrated this concept in a range of vehicles with different engine sizes and functionalities. This work is part of an ongoing project supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
India aims for energy independence by 2047 and Net Zero by 2070, focusing on expanding renewable energy adoption across all sectors to drive its energy transition. Recently, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) unveiled the latest iteration (V3.0) of the India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 (IESS 2047) tool, designed to assess the collective effects of various green energy policies introduced by the Indian government.
As OpenGov Asia reported, IESS, an open-source tool, encompasses various policies concerning alternative energy resources such as the PM Kusum Scheme, national missions on green hydrogen and energy storage, renewable purchase obligations, offshore wind strategies, the electric vehicle policy, and energy efficiency projects. By assessing the energy demand and supply across the nation, the tool analyses emissions, costs, land usage, and water requirements up to the year 2047.
The web version of the tool presents user-friendly graphical representations that depict energy demand and supply scenarios for the country. These representations are generated based on the choices made by the users. This version of IESS has been designed with the purpose of accessibility and is easily downloadable for people to use. Users can generate their own pathways, allowing researchers and think tanks to develop customised scenarios based on various factors such as the share of industry, services, agriculture, population, the pace of urbanisation, and end-use energy demand. This flexibility empowers users to create specific applications tailored to their requirements.
