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TOPIC : GS 3 Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.

 

Green hydrogen, a new ally for a zero carbon future

What is the news?

  • Scientists and technocrats have for years been engaged in the quest of discovering alternative fuels to fossil fuels responsible for the production of carbon dioxide, in turn catalysing human induced global heating.
  • The latest studies by a battery of scientists representing about 195 countries have signalled the crucial issue of climate vulnerability, especially for the Asian countries.
  • The forthcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from November 1­12, 2021 is to reexamine the coordinated action plans to mitigate greenhouse gases and climate adaptation measures.

Green Hydrogen Economy

  • An alternative source of energy, governments are placing the hope of adopting a multi­faceted practical approach to utilise ‘Green hydrogen’
  • It as a driving source to power our industries and light our homes with the ‘zero emission’ of carbon dioxide.
  • Energy-rich source Hydrogen is the most abundant element on the planet, but rarely in its pure form which is how we need it.
  • It has an energy density almost three times that of diesel.
  • This phenomenon makes it a rich source of energy, but the challenge is to compress or liquify the LH2 (liquid hydrogen)
  • It needs to be kept at a stable minus 253° C far below the temperature of minus 163° C at which Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is stored entailing its ‘prior to use exorbitant cost’.

 

 

 

  • The production techniques of this ‘Energy­Carrier’ vary depending upon its applications designated with different colours such as black hydrogen, brown hydrogen, blue hydrogen, green hydrogen, etc.
  • Black hydrogen is produced by use of fossil fuel, whereas pink hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, but using energy from nuclear power sources.
  • Green hydrogen’, the emerging novel concept, is a zero carbon fuel made by electrolysis using renewable power from wind and solar to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
  • It can be utilised for the generation of power from natural sources wind or solar systems  and will e a major step forward in achieving the target of ‘net zero’ emission.

Challenges

  • The obstacle of cost The ‘production cost’ of ‘Green hydrogen’ has been considered to be a prime obstacle.
  • A power hungry India is the world’s fourth largest energy consuming country behind China, the United States and the European Union, according to the IEA’s forecast, and will overtake the European Union to become the world’s third energy consumer by the year 2030

Challenges

  • ‘Green hydrogen’ manufacturing unit covering a land­size as large as that of Belgium, in the northern western part of the country.
  • The Indian Railways have announced the country’s first experiment of a hydrogen­fuel cell technology­based train by retrofitting an existing diesel engine

 

 

  • The project will not only ensure diesel savings to the tune of several lakhs annually but will also prevent the emission of 0.72 kilo tons of particulate matter and 11.12 kilo tons of carbon per annum.
  • It is high time to catch up with the rest of the world by going in for clean energy, decarbonizing the economy and adopting ‘Green hydrogen’ as an environment friendly and safe fuel for the next generations.

Mains Question

How green hydrogen holds promise as an alternative, truly clean fuel and in aiding the world’s decarbonisation goals ?

Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/green-hydrogen-a-new-ally-for-a-zero-carbon-future/article36369777.ece

 

PRELIMS PUNCHERS

  1. Lake Maracaibo

It  is a large brackish tidal bay (or tidal estuary) in Venezuela and an “inlet of the Caribbean Sea”. It is sometimes considered a lake rather than a bay or lagoon. It is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by Tablazo Strait, wide at the northern end. It is fed by numerous rivers, the largest being the Catatumbo. The geological record shows that it was a true lake in the past, and as such is one of the oldest lakes on Earth at 20–36 million years old. Lake Maracaibo acts as a major shipping route to the ports of Maracaibo and Cabimas.

The surrounding Maracaibo Basin contains large reserves of crude oil, making the lake a major profit center for Venezuela. The basin also holds almost a quarter of Venezuela’s population. A dredged channel gives oceangoing vessels access to the bay.  The weather phenomenon known as the Catatumbo lightning at Lake Maracaibo regularly produces more lightning than any other place on the planet.

 

 

Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/society/sunday-quiz-what-has-august-1-ever-given-us/article35648516.ece

 

  1. Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

It  is an autonomous organization of the Government of India, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences in, Hyderabad. ESSO-INCOIS was established as an autonomous body in 2007 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO). ESSO- INCOIS is mandated to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and constant improvements through systematic and focussed research.

Centre housing the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System  was established in INCOIS by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the nodal ministry, with the collaboration of the Department of Science and Technology , Department of Space , and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research . At the time of its establishment, the centre had the mandate to provide important tsunami advisories to the people living in the coastal areas of the country. For this purpose, the center was equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and well trained manpower

Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/incois-organising-three-day-workshop/article36342927.ece

 

  1. The minimum support price (MSP)

It is an agricultural product price, set by the Government of India to purchase directly from the farmer. This is not enforceable by law. By definition, this rate is

 

to safeguard the farmer to a minimum profit for the harvest, if the open market has lesser price than the cost incurred. The Indian government sets the price for 23 commodities twice a year. MSP is fixed on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) since 2009.

MSP stands for “Minimum Support Price”. MSP is the price that farmers get on their crops, the price the government determines according to data given by the CACP (Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices).

Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/amid-protests-centre-hikes-minimum-support-price-for-rabi-crops/article36357984.ece

 

  1. The Harischandra Range

It is a spur of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, India. It runs in a northwest to southeast direction stretching from northeast of Pune district through Ahmednagar and Beed to Osmanabad district. It lies between the Godavari and the Bhima rivers and acts as a water divide between the Godavari and Krishna river basins. These are low-lying hills with an average elevation and they gain in elevation towards the northwest.

Geologically, these hills are similar to the Deccan Plateau and are composed of basaltic lava deposits. The range derives its name from the Harischandragarh peak, a popular trekking spot and the highest peak of the range. The hills are covered under deciduous forests especially teak but much of it has been degraded due to the rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in this region. The city of Ahmednagar is the largest in this region.

Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/books/for-a-cool-monsoon-afternoon/article19131966.ece

 

PRELIMS QUESTION

 

 

  1. Consider the following statement with regard to The Harischandra Range
  2. It is a located in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
  3. It acts as a water divide between the Godavari and Krishna river basins.

Select the correct statement using code given below.

(a). 1only       (b) 2 only

(c).Both       (d). None of above

Answer : B

It is a spur of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, India. It runs in a northwest to southeast direction stretching from northeast of Pune district through Ahmednagar and Beed to Osmanabad district. It lies between the Godavari and the Bhima rivers and acts as a water divide between the Godavari and Krishna river basins. These are low-lying hills with an average elevation and they gain in elevation towards the northwest.

Geologically, these hills are similar to the Deccan Plateau and are composed of basaltic lava deposits. The range derives its name from the Harischandragarh peak, a popular trekking spot and the highest peak of the range. The hills are covered under deciduous forests especially teak but much of it has been degraded due to the rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in this region. The city of Ahmednagar is the largest in this region.

 

  1. Lake Maracaibo is located in which of the following countries
  2. Brazil
  3. Venezuela
  4. Colombia
  5. Argentina

Answer : B

It  is a large brackish tidal bay (or tidal estuary) in Venezuela and an “inlet of the Caribbean Sea”. It is sometimes considered a lake rather than a bay or lagoon. It is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by Tablazo Strait, wide at the northern end. It is fed by numerous rivers, the largest being the Catatumbo. The geological record shows that it was a true lake in the past, and as such is one of the oldest lakes on Earth at 20–36 million years old. Lake Maracaibo acts as a major shipping route to the ports of Maracaibo and Cabimas.

The surrounding Maracaibo Basin contains large reserves of crude oil, making the lake a major profit center for Venezuela. The basin also holds almost a quarter of Venezuela’s population. A dredged channel gives oceangoing vessels access to the bay.  The weather phenomenon known as the Catatumbo lightning at Lake Maracaibo regularly produces more lightning than any other place on the planet.