NTPC hands over five hydrogen fuel cell buses to Leh Administration

Boosting its decarbonization efforts, NTPC Limited has handed over 05 Hydrogen fuel cell buses to SIDCO (Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation, a wholly owned corporation of Leh Administration) for operation and use. Official statement from NTPC held that this initiative marks India’s first commercial deployment of hydrogen fuel buses and sets a global benchmark for green mobility by operating at the highest altitude in the world.

Last November, NTPC launched world’s first hydrogen fuelling station and first-of-its kind Green Hydrogen Mobility Station in Leh. The station at an altitude of 11,562 ft is co-located with dedicated Solar plant of 1.7 MW for providing renewable power for its entire operational requirements.

The hydrogen fuel is dispensed at 350 bar (India’s first high pressure hydrogen dispensation system) in 05 fuel cell buses, designed for operation in sub-zero temperature in rarefied atmosphere, typical to such altitude locations.

The hydrogen mobility project shall mitigate the carbon emissions of approx. 350 MT/year and contribute 230 MT/year of pure oxygen into the atmosphere equivalent to 13000 tree plantations.

The buses were handed over in the esteemed presence of Bhupesh Chowdhry, MD (SIDCO) & Secretary Transport, K K Hota, GM & CEO (NUGEL) and other senior officials from NTPC and Leh Administration. Dr Pawan Kotwal, Chief Secretary, UT of Ladakh congratulated NTPC for setting up Nation’s First Hydrogen Mobility Project at Leh.

 The Chief Secretary, UT of Ladakh appreciated the innovative technology and efforts of NTPC and requested to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen applications for achieving Carbon Neutral Ladakh. He also advised to document the precious learnings and findings from the project for insights in execution of similar projects in Ladakh.

NTPC Ltd. is India’s largest integrated power utility, contributing one-fourth of the India’s power requirements and has an installed capacity of over 81 GW, with an additional capacity of 29.5 GW under construction, including 9.6 GW of renewable energy capacity. The company is committed to achieving 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.