Green India Initiative: Gail doubles Hydrogen blending in Indore gas network

Gail India (Gail), the state-run largest gas transporting and marketing company has increased nearly three-fold its hydrogen blending capacity in the City Gas Services network in Indore, Madhya Pradesh through its joint venture  Avantika Gas Ltd (AGL).
Initially, the project used 2 percent Hydrogen blending in the CGD network which has subsequently raised to over 5 percent. The project, the first of its kind in the country, is currently catering to over 3000 households and 70 industrial and commercial units. Confirming the development, the company spokesperson said that around 200 kg/day(13,000 SCM) of hydrogen is being currently injected into AGL’s natural gas network.

The pilot project, which has been set up at an investment of Rs 70 million, has already shown an excellent result in terms of reducing carbon emissions. “When hydrogen is added in natural gas, it lowers the overall carbon content, leading to reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions upon combustion,” he said.
The 5 percent hydrogen blending is expected to reduce almost three million kilograms of carbon-di-oxide yearly. According to a senior official, the project is in line with the Government’s Green Hydrogen Initiative. While it is currently using blue hydrogen, a derivative of natural gas, GAIL is studying the feasibility of supplying green hydrogen to its Indore project as a part of its long-term hydrogen roadmap formulation.
The pilot project, which was launched on January 31, 2022, is expected to be completed by this year-end. Around the same time, Gail’s unique project one of the largest green hydrogen initiatives at the Vijaipur Complex in Guna district of MP is also expected to be commissioned. 
The Green Hydrogen plant is based on a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer which will use renewable power including hydroelectric.
The Guna project has been designed to produce around 4.3 metric tonnes of hydrogen per day (approximately 10 MW capacity), the largest in India, with a purity of about 99.999 percent.
“ Once completed, there will be a quantum jump in the blending of hydrogen with the natural gas that has been distributed through the company’s CGD network with AGL. This apart, the company will be able to spread its green network in the industrial and commercial establishments in other states also, particularly in the fertilizer sector as well as in the CNG segment,” said a senior official.
“ The production and blending of hydrogen in the natural gas is going to open up a new vista in the energy industry in India.  And Gail is
fully committed to leading the program, envisioned by the Government, to a new height.