2 days ago
SRM University to develop a green hydrogen car
SRM University of Amaravati, is aiming at develop a 'Green Hydrogen' powered car within the next three years, which will be tested on the National Highway between Guntur and Vijayawada, revealed Dr. D. Narayana Rao, Executive Director – Research of the university.
Dr. Narayana Rao told The Hindu, on the concluding day of the two-day 'Green Hydrogen Summit-2025' held at Neerukonda in Amaravati capital city, that the university aims to reduce the cost of producing green hydrogen from the current ₹350 to ₹200 per kilogram in the next couple of years. We also seek to lower the electricity consumption required to produce one kilogram of green hydrogen from the present demand of 50 units to 40 units. As assured to Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu during the Summit's inaugural session, the University is committed to engaging all stakeholders in the sector to produce affordable green hydrogen in the State and contribute to developing Andhra Pradesh as a hub for this technology.
Transport sector
Mr. Narayana Rao further explained that green hydrogen, with its remarkable attributes, such as high energy density has wide- ranging applications in different sectors including transportation. He predicted that in the next three years, hydrogen powered cars, buses, JCBs, trains and airplanes will be a reality in India and globally.
He said: 'Today, steel industries worldwide use coal, but, green hydrogen can serve as an excellent substitute. Steel produced using green hydrogen is known as green steel, and European countries now insist on importing only green steel. So, it is imperative for countries involved in bulk production of steel to transition to hydrogen in the coming years.'
Pudimadaka hub
He explained that the government of India has launched the National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) with an impressive outlay of ₹19,750 crore. The key objectives of NHM are indigenous manufacturing of electrolysers, particularly pressurised alkaline electrolysers, fuel cells, creating job opportunities and to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. These goal present both opportunities and challenges before industry, national research institutions and universities. Aligning with the NHM, the government of Andhra Pradesh has taken swift steps to developing Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam as a green hydrogen hub. The target set by Mr. Naidu for this hub is to produce 1.5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen and 3 lakh tonnes of green ammonia.
Objectives of SRM University Amaravati
Dr. Rao explained that, 'The first goal of SRM University is developing a hydrogen powered combustion engine for the car.' He expressed hope that an automobile manufacturer would come forward to develop such a car. He added that, the Ministry of Railways has already developed a hydrogen-powered fuel cell-based train with ten coaches and they will be demonstrating it in September 2025, between the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana.
