Union Minister Hardeep Puri Announces Green Hydrogen As “Fuel Of Future”

Union Minister Hardeep Puri declared today that Green Hydrogen stands as the “fuel of the future.” He expressed his belief that in two decades, fossil fuels may lose popularity due to emerging alternatives. Mr. Puri emphasized that the success of Green Hydrogen hinges on fostering domestic demand and production.

“In 2021, during his speech at the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated for the adoption of Green Hydrogen, which sparked skepticism. He asserted, ‘When the PM speaks from the Red Fort, consider it a sincere intention,'” he remarked.

When questioned about the widespread acceptance of the fuel, Mr. Puri illustrated with the instance of the nation’s transition from wood and coal to LPG cylinders.

“Previously, acquiring gas cylinders posed challenges, leading women to rely on coal for cooking, causing harmful effects. We progressed from that stage. The Ujjawala scheme distributed nine crore gas cylinders. The most vulnerable individuals hold the utmost priority,” he explained.

Regarding automobiles, as the count of electric vehicles continues to rise, combining petrol with biofuels will diminish reliance on fossil fuels, he noted.

“Technical studies have demonstrated that a 20% blending rate prevents corrosion of auto parts and enhances overall performance. I was informed that exceeding a 20% blend might not be feasible,” mentioned Mr. Puri, who oversees the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry.

“We conducted experiments and found no issues up to a 20 percent blend. E20 fuel has proven successful, with 2,000 pumps retailing it. If we set a target beyond 20 percent, we must have the necessary infrastructure. Presently, I can confirm that cars are being manufactured to run on E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol in the fuel,” he added.

“There is a trend to completely end fossil fuels,” he said, pointing out that will happen only when one invests in renewable energy.