India's largest power generator, NTPC Ltd has commissioned the country's first green hydrogen blending project.

The green hydrogen blending has been started in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat, the company said in a statment on Tuesday (3 January).

The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL).

The first molecule of green hydrogen from the project was set in motion by P Ram Prasad, Head of Project, Kawas in presence of other senior executives of NTPC Kawas and GGL.

After the start of blending operation, NTPC Kawas held awareness workshops for township residents with help of GGL officials, the company said.

The foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July last year.

The blending project will supply H2- NG (natural gas) to households in the Kawas township at Adityanagar, Surat.

The green hydrogen in Kawas is produced through the electrolysis of water using power from a 1 MW floating solar project.

NTPC said that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has given approval for 5 per cent vol./vol. blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with and the blending level would be scaled phase wise to reach 20 per cent.

The blending of green hydrogen with natural gas reduces CO2 emissions while maintaining the same net heating content.

NTPC said that this feat is achieved only by few select countries like UK, Germany, and Australia etc.

"This would bring India at the center stage of the global hydrogen economy," the company said.