The Business Bytes
Ranchi, November 2, 2024 (TBB Bureau): NTPC Ltd., India’s premier power utility, is making significant strides in green hydrogen production through its R&D arm, NETRA. In an ambitious move towards sustainable energy, NTPC has announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art green hydrogen production plant that will utilize plasma-based oxy gasification technology to process Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and agricultural waste.
Once operational, the facility will be the world’s first of its kind, leveraging plasma-assisted oxy gasification to transform MSW and agri-waste into high-quality syngas. From this syngas, ultra-pure hydrogen, with a purity level exceeding 99.9%, will be extracted using a novel combination of gas membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption techniques.
The demonstration plant, set to produce around one tonne of green hydrogen per day, will process approximately 25 tonnes of MSW and agricultural waste daily. In addition to hydrogen, the system will yield carbon monoxide, which will be repurposed to generate electricity via low-calorie gas engines, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing waste.
This initiative represents a breakthrough in sustainable energy production methods. Unlike traditional electrolysis, which requires a substantial energy input of 55-60 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen, the gasification and reformation of MSW/agricultural waste provide a more efficient and environmentally friendly pathway to green hydrogen.
NETRA’s advancement in this technology aligns with NTPC’s dedication to energy transition goals and the adoption of circular economy principles. This pioneering project also opens new opportunities for NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on expanding NTPC’s footprint in the green hydrogen domain.
