Stone laid for green hydrogen microgrid project at Simhadri
Through this pilot project, NTPC will explore the potential of large-scale, off-grid hydrogen energy storage and microgrid projects at strategic locations throughout the country
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: Within a few days of awarding the contract, NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Project on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the world's largest green hydrogen microgrid project.
NTPC, India's largest integrated energy company has awarded the project of 'standalone fuel-cell based 50 kW micro-grid pilot project with hydrogen production using electrolyser to Bloom Energy India Pvt Ltd. Fuel cell maker Bloom Energy Corp is headquartered in California.
Through this pilot project, NTPC will explore the potential of large-scale, off-grid hydrogen energy storage and microgrid projects at strategic locations throughout the country.
Bloom Energy is expected to commence work early 2002 to make solid oxide, high temperature electrolyser so as to produce green hydrogen from renewable power generated at the nearby floating solar power plant. Thereafter, the hydrogen will be transformed into carbon-neutral power without combustion through fuel cells. This will meet the needs of NTPC Simhadri guesthouse located nearby as a pilot project and based on the feedback it will be replicated at other locations of NTPC.
The hydrogen will be produced during sunshine hours and stored at high pressure. It will be used by a 50 KW solid oxide fuel cell. The system will work in a standalone mode from 5 pm to 7 am.
Simhadri has 2000 (4x500) 2,000 MW coal-fired plant at Parawada, about 40 km from here. It is the first project using seawater for condenser cooling and disposal. Commissioned in 1997, it is also credited with using first of its kind model building using nano concrete aggregate (NACA) made by fly ash. At a simple ceremony, the foundation stone for the hydrogen microgrid project was laid by Diwakar Kaushik, Chief General Manager–Simhadri in the august presence of A.K. Srivastava, CGM (Unified Shared Services Centre), G.C. Choukse, General Manager (O&M), senior officials, representatives from the unions and associations.
"We have taken several revolutionary initiatives including recycling of used water and fuels and using fly ash for construction purposes," an official told Bizz Buzz.
