image credits: manas muduli
The State is set to lead National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), with the launch of green hydrogen bus in Odisha on the Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri route. Launched on January 4, 2023, with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crore up to FY 2029-30, the NGHM aims to decarbonize the economy and reduce fossil fuel imports. Odisha’s inclusion in this ambitious initiative is backed by a Rs. 19.5 crore investment.
Key Details of Odisha’s Green Hydrogen Bus Initiative
Odisha’s green hydrogen bus project is a standout feature of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The state has secured a spot among the five sanctioned pilot projects, which collectively involve 37 vehicles among which 15 are hydrogen fuel cell-based and 22 are hydrogen internal combustion engine based, alongside nine hydrogen refueling stations across India. Specifically, the Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri Golden Triangle route will see the deployment of hydrogen-powered buses.
The project in Odisha is backed by an investment of Rs. 19.5 crore from ARAI, aimed at facilitating the transition to sustainable public transport. A tripartite agreement between the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Grid Corporation of Odisha (GRIDCO), and Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) ensures seamless collaboration. NTPC will oversee hydrogen production, GRIDCO will supply renewable energy, and CRUT will operate the buses.
Across India, the five pilot projects are supported by a total financial allocation of Rs. 208 crore from the Government of India. Odisha’s share of this initiative, combined with its strategic route selection, positions it as a leader in the pilot phase. The projects are expected to be commissioned within the next 18-24 months.
How the Technology Behind Green Hydrogen Buses Work?
Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources, is at the heart of this initiative. The buses deployed in Odisha will utilize two types of hydrogen-based technologies: hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) and hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) vehicles. HFCVs generate electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor as a byproduct. HICE vehicles, on the other hand, burn hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel engines. Nationwide, the pilot projects include 15 HFCVs and 22 HICE vehicles.
Roadmap of Hydrogen Fuelled Buses Launched under the National Green Hydrogen Mission
Odisha’s participation in the NGHM through the inclusion of Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri route for the pilot of Hydrogen Fuelled Buses is part of broader Green initiative. It was chosen alongside nine other routes across India: Greater Noida–Delhi–Agra, Ahmedabad–Vadodara–Surat, Sahibabad–Faridabad–Delhi, Pune–Mumbai, Jamshedpur–Kalinga Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram–Kochi, Kochi–Edappally, Jamnagar–Ahmedabad, and NH-16 Visakhapatnam–Bayyavaram. The state’s pilot is designed to assess the safety, efficiency, and scalability of hydrogen-based vehicles, contributing valuable data to India’s clean energy roadmap.
