India's first hydrogen fuel cell bus service is scheduled to begin in Leh, with the first-ever commercial test of cutting-edge technology on public roads in the high-altitude, chilly desert of the union territory of Ladakh.
Green Transport In Ladakh
The largest power generator in India, NTPC, is carrying out the project and has given the Leh government five hydrogen fuel cell buses for intra-city transportation. The government-owned organisation has also constructed a fueling station and a 1.7-megawatt captive solar facility for making green hydrogen to power the buses. For the infrastructure, the Leh government has leased 7.5 acres of city property.
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NTPC's Vision And Initiatives
In April 2020, a global expression of interest was announced calling for Ashok Leyland to provide the buses at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore per piece. The cost of travelling on the hydrogen fuel cell buses will be equivalent to that of the currently in use 9-metre diesel buses.
The plan to start the service on Independence Day was hampered by floods and landslides, so the first bus arrived in Leh later and is still disguised.
Prime Minister's Vision For A Carbon-Neutral Ladakh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his goal of creating a carbon-neutral Ladakh in his 2020 Independence Day speech. The project has been completed in less than two years. "Ladakh, which is tucked away in the Himalayan peaks, is rising to new heights. Not only must we protect them, but we must also take care of them."
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"Ladakh, Leh, and Kargil can carve out their own niche as a 'carbon neutral' unit, just as Sikkim has established itself as a 'Organic State' in the northeast," the prime minister had stated.
Although considered a vital technology for the energy transition, hydrogen fuel cells are still in the development stage. Buses powered by hydrogen are also being tested at Reliance Industries Ltd. In India, commercial hydrogen fuel cell buses will be used for the first time on open highways. The technology will be tested for the first time at altitudes higher than 11,500 feet and in a rarefied atmosphere with less oxygen.
The real test will come in the winter when Leh's average temperature dips to negative 20 degrees. Such low temperatures can ruin machinery when combined with wind chill.
According to organisation officials, Chairman Gurdeep Singh's push to position NTPC at the forefront of transition with innovative technologies is what inspired the project, which is being funded through SR budget.