Hydrogen-Powered Bus And Truck Pilot Projects Sanctioned On 10 Routes Across India: Centre Tells Parliament— All About It

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has sanctioned Rs 208 crore for pilot projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to deploy hydrogen-powered buses and trucks across ten routes in India.

The projects, approved based on recommendations from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, will include 37 vehicles and nine hydrogen refueling stations.

The MNRE had issued the scheme guidelines for implementation of pilot projects for use of Green Hydrogen in the transport sector in February 2024.

Automative Research Association of India (ARAI) was designated as the Scheme Implementing Agency (SIA) under this scheme.

"Based on the recommendation of ARAI and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), MNRE has sanctioned five pilot projects consisting total of 37 vehicles (buses and trucks), and 9 hydrogen refueling stations," Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

"These vehicles will run on 10 different routes across the country viz., Greater Noida–Delhi–Agra, Bhubaneshwar–Konark–Puri, Ahmedabad-Vadodara–Surat, Sahibabad–Faridabad–Delhi, Pune–Mumbai, Jamshedpu-Kalinga Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram–Kochi, Kochi–Edappally, Jamnagar-Ahmedabad, and NH-16 Visakhapatnam–Bayyavaram," the minister said.

"The total financial support for the selected pilot projects is Rs. 208 Crore from the Government of India," the minister added.

The minister also highlighted several policy measures undertaken by the government to support the green hydrogen ecosystem in India and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports. These steps include:

1. Long-Term ISTS Waiver: Green Hydrogen or Green Ammonia Plants commissioned on or before 31 December 2030, and which utilise renewable energy for the production of Green Hydrogen or Green

   Ammonia, have been granted exemption from the payment of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for a period of 25 years, starting from the date of commissioning of the project

2. Duty Benefits under SEZ Act: Duty benefits under Section 26 of SEZ Act, 2005 have been allowed to the units for installation as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) of renewable energy equipment exclusively for captive consumption of the unit.

3. Exemptions from ALMM/RLMM Requirements: Exemption has been granted from Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM)

   for solar PV modules and Revised List of Models & Manufacturers (RLMM) for wind turbine models requirements for renewable energy plants located inside an Special Economic Zone (SEZ) or Export Oriented Unit (EOU) and supplying power exclusively for production plants of Green Hydrogen (or its derivatives), which are located inside an SEZ or set up as an EOU.

Also Read: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Major Structural Works On Ahmedabad Station Nearing Completion, Sabarmati Station Work Advancing Steadily