Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) starts India’s maiden project of blending hydrogen into natural gas system in Indore.

Why in news?

• In line with National Hydrogen Mission, State gas utility GAIL (India) has commenced India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into the natural gas system in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The hydrogen blended natural gas will be supplied to Avantika Gas Ltd, one of GAIL’s joint venture with HPCL, for retailing of CNG to automobiles and piped natural gas to households in Indore, the company said in a statement.
• GAIL started injection of grey hydrogen at the city gate station (CGS), Indore.
• The grey hydrogen would subsequently be replaced by green hydrogen.

• Types of hydrogen
• Blue hydrogen is when natural gas is split into hydrogen and CO2. The CO2 is captured and then stored.
• Grey hydrogen is a similar process to blue hydrogen but the CO2 is not captured and is released into the atmosphere.
• Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water by electrolysis using electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar. This produces only hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is used and oxygen is vented into the atmosphere with no negative impact.