On September 25, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, inaugurated India’s first green hydrogen fuel cell bus in Delhi. Puri announced plans for 15 green hydrogen buses to be in operation by the end of 2023. He emphasized that this project could transform India from a net fossil energy importer to a clean hydrogen energy exporter, positioning the country as a global leader in technology transfer and green hydrogen production.
These hydrogen fuel-powered buses offer quick refueling, taking only a few minutes, comparable to the speed of filling up a traditional internal combustion engine with fossil fuel. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) partnered with Tata Motors for this initiative and is conducting operational trials of these buses on designated routes in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Indian Oil has also established a cutting-edge dispensing facility at their R&D campus in Faridabad to refuel green hydrogen produced through electrolysis using solar PV panels. Puri expressed India’s ambition to become a major player in global hydrogen production and exports, particularly green hydrogen.
The global demand for hydrogen is expected to surge significantly by 2050, with India aiming to meet domestic demand and potentially export hydrogen. The Ministry of Petroleum is actively involved in green hydrogen initiatives, including blending hydrogen in natural gas pipelines, localizing electrolyzer technologies, and promoting bio-pathways for green hydrogen production.