NTPC has invited global Expression of Interest (EoI) to set up a pilot project on hydrogen blending with natural gas in the city gas distribution segment. The EoI follows recent tenders floated by NTPC REL for green hydrogen fuelling station in Leh and by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) for procurement fuel-cell buses. A dedicated 1.25-mw solar plant is also being set up in Leh by NTPC REL to power the hydrogen fuelling station. 

“NTPC Limited, India’s largest, integrated, power-generating company under Ministry of Power, has floated a global Expression of Interest (EoI) to set up a pilot project on hydrogen blending with natural gas in City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in India,” a statement from the company has said. 

This pilot on hydrogen blending with natural gas will be the first of its kind in India and would explore the viability of decarbonising the country’s natural gas grid. 

NTPC, with its ambition of playing a key role in India’s transition to hydrogen economy, would later take this up at a commercial scale across India. 

The successful execution of the pilot will also demonstrate the decarbonisation objective, along with import substitution aim under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan. 

NTPC is also keenly exploring production of green ammonia to decarbonise the fertiliser industry and possibly fulfil the government’s upcoming mandate of using certain percentage of green hydrogen in fertiliser and refinery sectors. 

Besides, a detailed study on green methanol production in Ramagundam has been completed, and the company is expected to take final investment decision in the near future.