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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on May 02, 2025

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How can India tap its natural hydrogen potential?

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Environment & Ecology

Context:

For India, an economy in growth mode with aspirations for energy independence and a pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2070, the exploitation and use of natural hydrogen offers a potentially game-changing opportunity. In an increasingly volatile world where national sovereignty, economic stability, and energy security become inseparable, tapping into this naturally occurring commodity could go a long way toward enhancing India’s strategic autonomy.

Read about:

Natural Hydrogen

Indian Solar PV mission

Key takeaways:

• India’s demand for hydrogen is expected to rise sharply from six million tonnes annually in 2020 to more than 50 million tonnes per year by 2070, in alignment with its net-zero emissions goal.
• A preliminary academic study, based on models of global geologic hydrogen availability, estimates that India might possess around 3,475 million tonnes of naturally occurring hydrogen.
• If this projection holds true, it could significantly reduce the need for industrial hydrogen production by shifting focus to tapping into natural hydrogen sources, potentially accelerating decarbonisation at reduced costs.
• Following recent discoveries of natural hydrogen in the Andaman region, it is crucial for stakeholders to develop indicative estimates that can guide policymakers and attract investor interest.
• Conducting a thorough geological assessment is vital. Such a study should consider the nature and distribution of source rocks, the presence of seals and traps, the size and commercial viability of potential accumulations, the risk of losses during migration, and the ease of access for exploration.

Key Challenges

• Extracting and exploring natural hydrogen poses several difficulties, including technological, economic, logistical, and safety concerns. The foremost challenge lies in accurately detecting and assessing underground hydrogen reserves—an area where methods are not yet as refined as those used in the oil and gas sector.
• Developing cost-effective and efficient extraction technologies tailored to hydrogen’s unique characteristics, such as its low molecular weight and high diffusivity, is equally important. Research is ongoing to create solutions that yield low-cost hydrogen.
• Safety remains a critical issue due to hydrogen’s high reactivity and permeability. Appropriate safety measures must include the use of hydrogen-resistant materials, including specialized metal coatings, advanced cement mixtures, and rubber fillers that prevent degradation.

Way Forward for India

• India can take cues from earlier initiatives like the Solar Radiation Resource Assessment (SRRA) Project under the National Solar Mission—supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation and the National Institute of Wind Energy—which established an extensive network of monitoring stations. A similar collaborative public-private framework can be designed to locate and evaluate potential hydroge