The state-owned hydropower company NHPC has signed two agreements in Leh and Kargil to develop green hydrogen technologies. “NHPC signed two MoUs on July 15 for the development of ‘Pilot Green Hydrogen Technologies’ in Leh and Kargil districts of Union Territory of Ladakh in line with the country’s resolve to reduce the carbon footprint in the Power Sector,” a power ministry statement said.
The Memorandums of Understanding were signed in the presence of RK Mathur, Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh. According to the Leh district agreement, NHPC will consider developing a Pilot Green Hydrogen fuel cell-based Microgrid, including hydrogen production, to meet the power requirements of the NHPC guest house at Nimmo Bazgo Power Station (Leh) within NHPC premises. According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the Kargil district, the hydrogen generated in Kargil will be used in fuel cells capable of running two buses in the local area for up to 8 hours.
Aims to reduce carbon emission and develop green hydrogen
According to the statement, NHPC will scale up hydrogen production on a commercial scale to meet the region’s hydrogen needs in sectors such as mobility, transportation, heating, and micro-grid, and subsequent MoUs will be signed separately. These two pilot projects will lay the groundwork for future Green Hydrogen development and subsequent reductions in carbon emissions in the transportation/heating sectors, as well as attract long-term investment in the Hydrogen economy, generating new revenue streams and job opportunities for Ladakh’s youth.
