The future is hydrogen

The proposed opening of India’s first hydrogen fuel-dispensing station in New Delhi will mark a notable step towards diversifying the energy mix, and contribute to building energy security. The hydrogen station, set up by the Indian Oil Corporation and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, will initially dispense a 20:80 mix of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG) to a group of test vehicles already running on CNG. At stake is the future of the national hydrogen energy plan, which aims to run a million vehicles on hydrogen fuel. Since it is now becoming clear that the scope is limited to using ethanol and plant-based bio-fuels as alternatives to petroleum fuels, hopes rest on hydrogen as a clean fuel. (December 31, 2008)