Renewable Power-to-X Training in Kolkata
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 19 to 21 December in Kolkata. A total of 30 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. Within this module, Shri Jaydeep Jadhav, Steel Authority of India Limited, gave a presentation on the Carbon Adjustment Border Mechanism (CBAM). The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a landmark tool to put a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon intensive goods that are entering the EU, and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.
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. State-level policy actions on green hydrogen were also discussed during this module.
Shri Sushil Kumar Suman from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) delivered a presentation on the Mission on Advanced and High Impact Research (MAHIR). The mission's primary objective is to foster indigenous research, development, and demonstration of the latest emerging technologies in the power sector. During the presentation, he provided participants with insights into the mission's objectives, outlined eight identified research areas, and discussed the structure and scope of the mission.
The floor was subsequently opened for a Q&A session. In this interactive segment, participants had the opportunity to seek clarification, share insights, and engage in discussions. The trainers concluded the session by posing a thought-provoking question to the participants: whether Green Hydrogen is merely a hype or a tangible reality. This encouraged them to reflect on the complexities and potential realities of this emerging topic.