Renewable Power-to-X Training in Kochi, Kerala
The Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF-SO) and the Power-to-X Hub jointly organised a three-day capacity-building Power-to-X training course on Green Hydrogen and its derivatives in India from 23 to 25 August 2023 in Kochi (Kerala). A total of 34 participants from the government, private sector, and academia took part in the training. The course was facilitated by Ms. Kajol, Senior Manager (Energy) at the World Resources Institute India, and Mr. Vivek Jha, an energy expert and independent consultant.
The Power-to-X training course offers a comprehensive overview of the entire PtX value chain, exploring the potential of renewable PtX in future energy systems and economies. It delves into crucial aspects such as PtX technologies, production processes, economics, and infrastructure. It follows a holistic approach to sustainability aspects of the PtX Hub’s Environmental, Economic, Social and Governance Framework (EESG).
Following an introduction to the topic of Renewable PtX, the training delved deeper into the topic of production pathways of Renewable PtX, evaluating its various downstream products such as green ammonia and methanol. Additionally, the training also looked into the economics of renewable energy and PtX, including cost development of electrolysers and its main drivers, green hydrogen and PtX derivatives.
In the next segment of the training, participants delved into the techno-economic criteria of the pertinent infrastructure, focusing on aspects such as transportation, storage, and the trade of renewable PtX products. With these insights, participants subsequently explored sector-specific PtX demand markets and value chains, examining various pathways and business cases.
The succeeding module focused on the sustainability criteria for Renewable PtX, encompassing topics such as the EESG Framework, PtX sustainability dimensions within the EESG, and the application of sustainability standards.
The concluding module centered on support policies and regulations for Renewable PtX, covering a spectrum of topics such as policy recommendations, regulatory requirements, and strategies for policy-making specific to renewable PtX. The discussion underscored India's National Green Hydrogen Mission document, which aims to position India as the global hub for the production, usage, and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
Ms. Heena Mandloi from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy presented the highlights of the Mission document, emphasizing the components under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) outlined in the mission document.
Ms. Priyam Srivastava and Mr. Deepak Choudhary from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) presented the National Electricity Plan (NEP) (Vol-I Generation) for the period of 2022-32, emphasising that based on the assumptions and adopted methodologies, the additional energy requirement for the country due to green hydrogen production is estimated to be 250 BU by the fiscal year 2031-32. The presentation also covered electricity demand projections, including captive power plants and solar rooftop installations. The domain of hydrogen has multiple facets to work on, but the ones relevant for the power sector, as brought out in the National Electricity Plan, were also presented by our speakers from CEA.
Following the presentations, the floor was opened for a Q&A session. During this interactive segment, participants had the opportunity to seek clarification, share insights, and engage in discussions. Subsequently, the trainers concluded the session by leaving the participants with the thought-provoking question: whether Green Hydrogen is a mere hype or a tangible reality, encouraging them to reflect on the complexities and potential realities of this emerging topic.