India's NTPC, Gujarat Gas sign pact to blend renewable hydrogen in gas pipeline

India's state-run power producer NTPC and natural gas firm Gujarat Gas have signed an agreement to blend renewable hydrogen in piped natural gas networks in the state of Gujarat, a Power Ministry statement said late April 5.

NTPC will produce renewable hydrogen using a 1 MW floating solar project in Kawas in Gujarat which will be blended to the extent of 5% in the gas network in the NTPC Kawas township, to be used in cooking applications, the statement said.

"... after successful completion, it [the percentage of hydrogen] shall be further increased," it said without specifying any timelines.

NTPC Kawas is a gas-based power station with an installed capacity of 645 MW and supplies power to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Chhattisgarh, in addition to Gujarat.

The hydrogen blending would be a first for the company that is targeting a capacity of 60 GW of renewable power by 2032, which would constitute about 45% of its total power generation capacity target for the same period.

It currently has an installed capacity of 69 GW which is majorly coal-based, with commissioned renewable projects totaling 1.7 GW.

Gujarat Gas flows a total gas volume close to 11.40 mmscmd across its 32,000-km natural gas pipeline network feeding commercial and household sectors in six states and one union territory.

India's other natural gas company GAIL said Jan. 31 that it has commenced the blending of an unspecified quantity of hydrogen into the natural gas pipelines in Indore in Madhya Pradesh via its unit Avantika Gas, which has a joint venture with oil and gas refiner HPCL.

Companies are blending hydrogen in gas pipelines for their decarbonization goals and it is generally believed that the existing pipeline infrastructure can take 5%-10% of hydrogen without having to make any notable changes to it.

Australia is likely to see more hydrogen injected into natural gas networks in 2022 following the success of early projects blending up to 5% of the energy carrier into the supply, project developers told S&P Global Commodity Insights in January.

"This project marks a stepping-stone in India's journey towards hydrogen-based and carbon neutral future," GAIL said.

India has a net-zero target set for 2070 and has said by 2030, half of its energy needs would come from renewables.