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<ul><li><keyword id="19895203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="keywords">Electric vehicles</keyword> (EVs) are gaining popularity worldwide</li><li>However, concerns remain about their environmental impact</li><li> <keyword id="21881868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="alternative-fuel" source="keywords">Alternative fuel</keyword> vehicles like hydrogen fuel cells and biofuels are some more alternatives we can tap into</li></ul> Electric vehicles or EVs are in their prime right now, with the demand crossing an all-time high. A trend noticeable around the world, EVs are not only becoming increasingly popular but also fairly affordable. Slowly but surely EVs are overcoming the challenges that crossed them — design, features, safety, and most importantly range. A major credit to this trend can be given to consumer acceptance, policy backing, and improving infrastructure. However, there is a downside to EVs as well. Having featured multiple EVs with our series<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCR3PaYxcmk&amp;t=1s" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank"> Short Spin, </a>I developed a strong reference point. This made me wonder why are we so heavily reliant on them. Over its life cycle, EVs cannot be termed as particularly environmentally friendly, which has been their main selling point over the past few decades. <h2>The ‘Red’ side of EVs</h2> There is a bit of red within the go-green agenda that EV manufacturers push. EVs as a whole do come with benefits like low maintenance, improved efficiency and ultimately lower fuel emissions. However, <keyword id="21357488" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="EV-production" source="keywords">EV production</keyword> and disposal can have detrimental effects on the natural environment. Here are some socio-ecological concerns over EVs: 1. High carbon footprint in battery production: EV battery production is energy-intensive and often relies on electricity from fossil fuels, leading to a high initial carbon footprint. This is elaborated in a story recently published by Earth Org. 2. Resource constraints and ethical concerns: Particularly with the extensive mining of cobalt and other minerals for EVs, there has been a global outcry. Limited availability of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, shady mining practices long work hours, unsafe work environments, and use of child labour in underdeveloped parts of the world have raised several ethical issues around the sustainability of EVs. This issue can be explored further in this essay by Al Jazeera. 3. Recycling and end-of-life challenges: EV battery recycling is currently inefficient, costly, and poses significant environmental risks, with a huge amount of batteries ending up in landfills. 4. Manufacturing costs and economic barriers: High production costs, especially for batteries, make EVs more expensive than conventional vehicles and require significant investments in new manufacturing facilities and supply chains. 5. Supply chain and geopolitical risks: Critical mineral resources necessary for EV production are concentrated in a few countries. This leads to vulnerabilities in the complex supply chain and often risks disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, or natural disasters. China as of today controls 83% of EV battery production in the world, with a major stronghold on the supply chain. While I am in no way suggesting to drop out of EVs, I believe sticking to just one alternative risks replicating the same mistake we did for ICE vehicles. So, what are the alternatives? <h2>The alternates fuel vehicles (<keyword id="23193800" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AFVs" source="keywords">AFVs</keyword>)</h2> AFVs are a growing segment of the automotive industry that utilize fuels other than traditional gasoline or diesel. These vehicles offer similar potential benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. While EVs are also a form of AFVs, here we will list out other major alternatives like hydrogen fuel and biofuel options. Hydrogen fuel cells: Convert hydrogen gas into electricity, emitting only water vapour. Currently, <keyword id="19906788" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Toyota" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Toyota" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Toyota">Toyota</keyword> and Hyundai are the only hydrogen-based cars in the Indian market. Hydrogen internal combustion engines: These vehicles use hydrogen as a fuel in modified combustion engines. While road-legal vehicles for this fuel type aren’t out, BMW with hydrogen 7 is working on a prototype. Ethanol: This is a renewable fuel made from plant materials, commonly mixed with gasoline. In America, Ford F-150 Flex-Fuel and Chevrolet Silverado Flex-Fuel are utilizing this technology. Biodiesel and renewable diesel: Derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled grease, these fuel types can be used in diesel engines. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Perhaps the most famous alternative for cabbies in Delhi, CNG is in popular demand. Technically it is used in specially modified internal combustion engines, primarily for lower emissions. Propane (Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG): A byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining, used in internal combustion engines. As technology continues to advance, these AFVs are becoming more accessible and affordable, making them a promising option for sustainable transportation. If you are an eco-conscious buyer in today’s auto market, bear in mind that there are options beyond EVs as well. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mercedes-expands-bev-range-rolls-out-second-locally-produced-model-in-india/articleshow/113388002.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Mercedes expands BEV range; rolls out second locally produced model in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/electric-two-wheeler-adoption-in-india-rising-13-share-expected-by-2026-27-jefferies/articleshow/113361787.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Electric two-wheeler adoption in India rising, 13% share expected by 2026-27: Jefferies</a>

EVs are not the only options for alternative fuel — make way for hydrogen and bio-fuel

<keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Adani Group">Adani Group</keyword> released the composite result and Credit Compendium of Adani Group of <keyword id="20027214" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="companies" source="keywords">companies</keyword> for Q1 FY25. The Results Compendium provides a comprehensive overview of the <keyword id="20088085" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-performance" source="keywords">financial performance</keyword> of the Adani Portfolio, while the Credit Compendium offers in-depth insights into the portfolio's robust credit strength. According to the results, the strong performance for the quarter was led by <keyword id="20113873" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Enterprises" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Enterprises" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Adani Enterprises">Adani Enterprises</keyword>' emerging businesses, including solar and wind manufacturing. In a press release, the company stated that it has emerged as India's largest player in the fully integrated <keyword id="19990484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-hydrogen" source="keywords">green hydrogen</keyword> chain, as well as in the airports and roads sectors. The company added that AEL's infrastructure businesses' steadily rising contribution is playing a significant role in this growth, with <keyword id="19957744" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EBITDA" source="keywords">EBITDA</keyword> expanding by 69.98 per cent YoY. These fast-growing businesses now contribute 13.3 per cent to the portfolio-level EBITDA, up from 7.2 per cent a year ago. The overall EBITDA of Adani Group companies surged by 32.87 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to reach Rs 22,570 crore, resulting in a trailing twelve-month (TTM) EBITDA of Rs 79,180 crore, marking a 45.13 per cent increase over the corresponding TTM of the previous year. The Adani Group highlighted that its 'Core Infrastructure' platform comprises AEL's (Adani Enterprises) Infrastructure businesses, Utility (Adani Green Energy, Adani Power, Adani Energy Solutions, and Adani Total Gas), and Transport (Adani Ports &amp; SEZ) businesses. The Solar module manufacturing business of the group saw module sales rise by 125 per cent YoY in the quarter. Furthermore, the operationalization of photovoltaic cell lines lowered costs, resulting in higher profitability. The airport business also continues to see strong growth from rising passenger movement, increasing consumer offerings, and the addition of routes, airlines, and flights across seven operational airports. Adani Enterprises' performance indicates that in airports, the annual passenger movement across 7 airports crossed 90 million for the first time. During the quarter, eight new routes, six new airlines, and 13 new flights were added across all seven airports. Additionally, 25 new brands were introduced at Lucknow airport after the inauguration of Terminal 3. The road business achieved its highest-ever 730 lane-km construction during this quarter. In the Adani Green Energy segment, construction work for a 500 MW hydro pump storage has commenced, with a 31 per cent YoY capacity addition during the quarter. Another 250 MW wind capacity was operationalized in July at Khavda, bringing the total capacity to 11.2 GW. Adani Energy Solutions stated that the Khavda-Bhuj Transmission Line (KBTL) is fully commissioned, enabling 3 GW green power evacuation from Khavda. The 1,765 ckm Warora Kurnool Transmission Line (WKTL) was also fully commissioned, strengthening the national grid by ensuring seamless power flow between the western and southern regions. Adani Ports &amp; SEZ reported that Vizhinjam port, India's first transhipment port equipped with South Asia's most advanced container-handling technology, was formally commissioned in July and will become operational in November. In the Cements segment, the promoters infused Rs 15,000 crore in two tranches in Ambuja Cements in March and April, fully subscribing to the warrant program and infusing a total of Rs 20,000 crore since the acquisition in September 2022. The company also acquired Penna Cement, increasing the total capacity to 89 MTPA. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-launched-in-india-at-172999-but-you-cant-get-your-hands-on-it-right-now/articleshow/112517193.cms">Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold launched in India at ₹1,72,999, but you can’t get your hands on it right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ipo-scam-two-victims-from-hyderabad-lose-over-11crore-in-fake-ipo-scams/articleshow/112488051.cms">IPO scam – Two victims from Hyderabad lose over ₹11 crore in fake IPO scams</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms">India’s wearables market decline for the first time as smartwatch shipments fall</a>

EBITDA of Adani Group companies surged by 32.87% year-on-year to ₹22,570 crore

<keyword id="19950119" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-Consultancy-Services" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tata Consultancy Services" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Tata Consultancy Services">Tata Consultancy Services</keyword> (TCS), has expanded its partnership with <keyword id="20167467" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rolls-Royce" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Rolls-Royce" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Rolls-Royce">Rolls-Royce</keyword>, a British multinational specialising in civil aerospace, defence aerospace, services, and power systems, to advance sustainable aviation initiatives. According to a press release, the collaboration focuses on researching <keyword id="22499621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hydrogen-fuel-system-technology" source="keywords">hydrogen fuel system technology</keyword>, reinforcing the potential of hydrogen as a zero-carbon <keyword id="20178417" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aviation-fuel" source="keywords">aviation fuel</keyword> of the future. TCS will supply engineering skills and support to Rolls-Royce to tackle three key challenges in enabling hydrogen for aviation- fuel combustion, fuel delivery, and fuel system integration with an engine. All elements must be validated for safe operation. This partnership highlights TCS's commitment to driving sustainable transformation across industries, aligning with its broader mission to harness technology for positive societal impact. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set targets for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Alan Newby, Director, Research and Technology, Rolls-Royce, said, "We welcome TCS to our hydrogen research programme and their engineering skills will play a valuable role in addressing our technology goals. We've already made great progress and having TCS with us gives us additional capability as we move forward on our journey to enable the energy transition for the aviation sector." The expanded partnership was announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, where TCS also showcased its technological prowess in the aviation industry. This collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship between Rolls-Royce and the Tata Group, including engine development and a robust supply chain commitment. TCS has worked with Rolls-Royce since 2010 in areas such as design, manufacturing engineering, control systems, software, after-market services, and IT services, supporting major civil and business aviation programs and the end-to-end product development lifecycle. Anupam Singhal, President - Manufacturing, TCS, said, "The partnership between TCS and Rolls-Royce is an exciting one that represents a powerful alliance in the quest for <keyword id="22500175" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-aviation-solutions" source="keywords">sustainable aviation solutions</keyword>. We are aligned with Rolls-Royce's ambition for a greener future. This partnership is the perfect opportunity to put our technological strengths and passion for the environment to use for advancing innovation and fostering an eco-friendlier aerospace sector." TCS will leverage its deep domain knowledge of the aircraft manufacturing industry to support Rolls-Royce's engineering activities such as system design, component design, supply chain support, and program management. These services will help Rolls-Royce research hydrogen technology to address the challenges of fuel combustion, fuel delivery, and fuel systems integration with an engine, ensuring all elements operate safely. Regu Ayyaswamy, Senior Vice President and Global Head- Internet of Things and Digital Engineering, TCS, said, "TCS and Rolls-Royce have been partners in advancing engineering excellence for nearly a decade. The new partnership for research into hydrogen fuel systems represents a pivotal next step at a time when the aviation industry is faced with the urgent challenge of reducing carbon emissions while maintaining performance and efficiency. It aligns well with TCS' commitment to harness technology for positive societal impact and building a greener future." TCS has been on a mission to harness the power of technology for positive societal impact and drive sustainable transformation across industries. With more than 200 sustainability offerings, TCS is helping customers around the world in their sustainability journeys. As a Tata group company, TCS is also conscious of its impact on the environment. In 2021, TCS set an ambitious sustainability target to reduce its absolute emissions by 70 per cent across Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 2025 from the baseline year 2016 and to achieve net zero by 2030. By FY24, TCS had already reduced its absolute carbon footprint across Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 80 per cent over a baseline of 2016, exceeding its target achievement by 10 per cent, one year ahead of time. (ANI)

TCS collaborates with Rolls-Royce for hydrogen research programme

Terming the state budget as "revolutionary," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath <keyword id="20040955" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shinde" source="keywords">Shinde</keyword> said that this budget in a true sense empowers women, youth, and farmers through various schemes worth Rs 1 lakh crore. He said that this budget is revolutionary and would make the future of weaker sections, farmers, and youth bright. Stating that the budget was a resolve to give a new direction to Maharashtra, <keyword id="20062947" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CM-Shinde" source="keywords">CM Shinde</keyword> said that this budget has an "unending chant of the <keyword id="22227448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="development-of-Maharashtra" source="keywords">development of Maharashtra</keyword>". Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister <keyword id="19941791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajit-Pawar" source="keywords">Ajit Pawar</keyword> on Saturday presented the additional budget for the year 2024-25 in the state assembly. The Finance Minister had presented the interim budget in February. Stating that the budget has important provisions to help women and unemployed youth to stand on their own feet, the Chief Minister said that "Chief Minister Majhi Laadki Baheen scheme, free vocational education to girl students, Chief Minister Annapoorna scheme which gives 3 cylinders per year to eligible families, project worth Rs 15 thousand crores for providing free electricity to farmers during day time, Chief Minister Baliraja electricity concession scheme which provides free power to farmers using agricultural pumps, training to 50 thousand youth every year to convey government schemes to masses and resolve to remove poverty of the weaker sections of the society have made this budget special." He said that provisions like free education to girl students for engineering, pharmacy, and medical education along with degree and diploma courses along with Rs. 1500 per month to every woman prove that the government has expressed its responsibility towards women of the state. Stating that the budget proves that it stands behind the farmers, Chief Minister Shinde said that the issue of food-grain storage would be resolved through schemes like Godown per village. He said that the lives of farmers would be transformed through various provisions in the budget which include financial assistance to cotton and soybean growers, special campaigns to complete irrigation projects, and solar pumps on demand. Pointing out that the decision to celebrate the coronation of <keyword id="19966480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chhatrapati-Shivaji-Maharaj" source="keywords">Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj</keyword> through a ceremony every year at Fort Raigad is important, the Chief Minister said that other decisions include recommending the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage for the UNESCO World Heritage along with the rock sculptures in Konkan, Dahi Handi celebration are efforts towards the preservation of history and culture of the state. He said that the budget provides Rs 20,000 to every Dindi (the troops participating in the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage) and it has made the announcement of making arrangements for medical treatment of pilgrims through the Chief minister's medical relief cell and provision for Nirmal Waari show commitment towards the annual pilgrim and Warkari sect. He said that a separate Warkari Mahamandal or separate Corporation for the annual pilgrims would be set up. Stating that massive investment would be made in priority sectors and the <keyword id="21313056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-hydrogen-sector" source="keywords">green hydrogen sector</keyword>, he said that it would generate employment in a big way. He said that the chief minister's youth training scheme would impart training to ten lakh youngsters every year and a centre of excellence would be established in ITI's which would benefit the youngsters. Stating that the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar scheme and Shrawan Bal seva state pension scheme assistance would be raised are strong steps CM Shinde said that providing for housing of various sections of society, Anand Dighe housing scheme for differently abled amply proves that the state government is taking strong steps towards removing the poverty in the state. The chief minister said that Metro routes worth 449 Kms in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur along with 23 thousand kilometer road stretch works under Chief Minister Gram Sadak scheme, construction of buildings of village Panchayats under Balasaheb Thackeray memorial Matoshree Gram Panchayat scheme, PM e-bus scheme in municipal corporation areas and other infrastructure works would be undertaken in a big way which would result in speedy development of the state. The monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly began on Thursday (June 28) and will go on till July 12. This is the last legislative session before the state assembly polls, in the next four months.

Budget resolves to give new direction to Maharashtra: CM Shinde

<keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Adani Group">Adani group</keyword> plans to invest about Rs 1.3 lakh crore across its portfolio companies in this financial year, as it doubles down on its $100 billion investment guidance over the next 7-10 years to grow businesses, the group's CFO said. The investment will range from ports to energy, airports, commodities, cement and media. 70% of this will met through internal cash generation and the remaining will be taken care through debt, group CFO Jugeshinder 'Robbie' Singh noted. The group will look to refinance $3-4 billion of debt maturing in the year and raise an additional $1 billion in project financing, he said, adding the annual $2-2.5 billion of equity infusion by bringing in new investors is also likely to continue. "This year will be more about asset completion," the CFO continued. <keyword id="34553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Renewable-energy" source="Orion">Renewable energy</keyword> firm <keyword id="19898586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani" source="keywords">Adani</keyword> Green will complete 6-7 GW project, while the solar wafer manufacturing unit will also attain scale. Also, the new airport at Mumbai will be completed. The projected capital expenditure or capex for 2024-25 (April 2024 to March 2025) fiscal is 40% higher than what the portfolio is estimated to have incurred in FY24. The group had previously guided a $100 billion capex over the next 7-10 years. Most of this investment is going to go into the group's fast growing businesses -- renewable energy, <keyword id="8411893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-hydrogen" source="Orion">green hydrogen</keyword> and airports and infrastructure. As much as 70% of the planned capex will go into its green portfolio - primarily <keyword id="19904987" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-power" source="keywords">renewable power</keyword>, green hydrogen, green evacuation. Of the remaining 30%, the majority will be spent towards airports and ports businesses. Adani group companies posted a record 45% rise in pre-tax profit (Ebitda) to Rs 82,917 crore (about $10 billion) in FY24, Singh said. Emerging from a damning report of a US short seller <keyword id="191733" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindenburg" source="Orion">Hindenburg</keyword>, which hit the market value of its listed companies, Adani group in 2023-24 focused on containing debt, reducing founder share pledge and consolidating the business in core competencies. The five-year CAGR (compound annual growth rate) for profit growth was 54% A school drop-out, group chairman <keyword id="19929098" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gautam-Adani" source="keywords">Gautam Adani</keyword> started out as a commodities trader and rose to be counted amongst world's richest with an empire spanning across ports, power generation, airports, mining, renewables, gas, data centres, media and cement. Today, Adani group is the world's second largest solar power company, it is the largest airport operator with 25% of passenger traffic and 40% of air cargo, the largest ports and logistics company with 30% market share, largest integrated energy player, and the country's second largest cement manufacturer. With strong emphasis on <keyword id="19895435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-energy" source="keywords">green energy</keyword> transition, it will be allocating more than 70% of this $100 billion to its green businesses including renewable power, green hydrogen, and green evacuation transmission lines. The conglomerate is building the world's largest renewable park at Khavda, Gujarat, spanning over 530 square kilometers, which is about five times the size of the city of Paris. A large portion of total investments is earmarked for expansion and development of its fast-growing airports business and ports business. With a portfolio boasting eight airports including the upcoming <keyword id="57321" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="navi-mumbai" source="Orion">Navi Mumbai</keyword> airport and 14 domestic ports, Adani wants to further solidify its presence in these sectors.

Adani to invest Rs 1.3 lakh crore in FY25 across its companies

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Japan Airlines is looking at the feasibility of hydrogen-electric aircraft via three new partnerships.</li><li>The use of hydrogen over kerosene would decrease aircraft CO2 emissions but limit range and capacity.</li><li>According to the World Bank, more than 98% of the world's hydrogen is made using natural gas or coal.</li></ul>One of Asia's largest airlines is placing big bets on hydrogen.In mid-November, Japan Airlines announced a series of deals with global manufacturers of hydrogen-electric aircraft and engines to explore the feasibility of flying emissions-free passenger planes.These forward-thinking manufacturers are big names in the hydrogen industry and include Germany's H2Fly, California's Universal Hydrogen, and the British-American company ZeroAvia. All three have successfully <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/power-players-aviation-sustainability-electric-hydrogen-flight-2022-5">flown hydrogen-powered aircraft</a> this year.The technology uses a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity and run electric motors, or hydrogen can be combusted to power engines.In either case, existing jet engines could be converted to work on hydrogen fuel, and the flights would be carbon-free so long as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hydrogen-energy-help-climate-crisis-but-still-hurdles-2023-10">"green" hydrogen</a> was used, or hydrogen made using renewable energy.An August study from the <a target="_blank" href="https://theicct.org/publication/fuel-cell-retrofit-aug23/">International Council on Clean Transportation</a>, a US nonprofit think tank, found hydrogen fuel cells using green liquid hydrogen could reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 88%.<h2>A growing market</h2>With hydrogen proving a popular solution and world governments <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aviation-industry-net-zero-by-2050-disagree-decarbonization-2023-12">committing to net-zero emissions by 2050</a>, Japan Airlines' new partners are all racing to capitalize on the growing hydrogen market.In March, Universal Hydrogen flew the world's first hydrogen-powered regional airliner — an ATR 72 turboprop nicknamed Lightning McClean, which operated on hydrogen in only one engine for safety reasons.<div type="image" title="First UH liquid hydrogen flight on ATR 72." height="1706" width="2560" msid="106192276" hostid="261" sizebytes="127162"></div>The success is part of the company's development of ATR 72 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-hydrogen-aircraft-market-aviation-aerodelft-joby-climate-carbon">conversion kits</a>, for which it has secured 250 orders. The kits would allow operators to fit existing kerosene-burning aircraft engines with hydrogen-fuel-cell powertrains.ZeroAvia, a competitor, is pursuing a similar venture with the hydrogen-electric engine it's building for passenger aircraft, describing hydrogen fuel as the "only viable, scalable solution for zero-emission aviation."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zeroavia-wins-amazon-shell-funding-transform-aviation-industry-hydrogen-2021-2">With backing from Bill Gates, Amazon, and Shell</a>, ZeroAvia hopes to create powertrains capable of powering planes with anywhere from nine to over 200 people on board by 2040.<div type="image" title="ZeroAvia's world's first hydrogen-electric passenger plane flight" height="1667" width="2500" msid="106192277" hostid="261" sizebytes="148232"></div>The company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-first-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-passenger-aircraft-flight-2020-10#however-this-hydrogen-electric-flight-isnt-the-projects-only-flight-to-have-taken-place-so-far-2">operated its first hydrogen-electric flight</a> in January using a 19-seater turboprop.Meanwhile, H2Fly operated the world's first piloted liquid-hydrogen flight in September using its four-seater HY4 demonstrator aircraft. The company said it's looking to size up to regional airliners soon.Other plane makers, such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-a380-demonstrator-jet-that-will-test-hydrogen-powered-engines-2022-2">Airbus and Embraer, are also building hydrogen-powered aircraft</a> as part of their decarbonization efforts.<h2>Hydrogen powertrains are not strong enough yet to power large airliners</h2><div type="image" title="H2FLY's H2Y hydrogen plane flying." height="683" width="1024" msid="106192278" hostid="261" sizebytes="46660"></div>For now, the small prop planes are likely to remain the popular option for hydrogen-powered engines because the current technology is not strong enough to power the medium and large airliners that make up most of the world's passenger jets, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.This is likely not an issue for Japan Airlines, though, as its new partnerships are directed at deploying hydrogen aircraft on short, regional routes around Japan."JAL group already operates 50 regional aircraft which will be relevant to hydrogen-electric propulsion technology in the foreseeable future," James Peck, ZeroAvia's chief customer officer, said in a press release.The airline's regional connector, Japan Air Commuter, already operates a small fleet of ATR 72 planes, so its investment in Universal Hydrogen could prove lucrative thanks to its conversion kits for the turboprop.There's a downside to using hydrogen on these tinier planes, though.Because hydrogen is light and requires a lot of storage space because of the immense volume needed compared with kerosene, these smaller aircraft sacrifice range and payload capacity — meaning they could become a cost burden for operators.But the range issue could be remedied with the use of liquid hydrogen over gaseous hydrogen, as shown by H2Fly's recent flight. According to the company, its September H2Y flight soared 932 miles using liquid hydrogen but only 466 miles using gaseous hydrogen."In the years to come, battery-electric and hydrogen-electric propulsion systems will enable us to build aircraft that are quieter and make mid- to long-range air travel possible with zero emissions," Universal Hydrogen said.<h2>The debate between 'green' and 'blue' hydrogen</h2><div type="image" title="Hydrogen renewable energy production pipeline - hydrogen gas for clean electricity solar and windturbine facility." height="3359" width="5015" msid="106192279" hostid="261" sizebytes="738898"></div>In addition to range and capacity problems, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1">hydrogen engines</a> have faced pushback from environmental advocates who worry that hydrogen production will further the fossil-fuel crisis.In October, the Biden administration announced $7 billion in funding to create "clean" hydrogen hubs, two-thirds of which were planned to be dedicated to producing green hydrogen via electrolysis — the process of splitting water into hydrogen and water.This, however, leaves room for what's known as "blue" hydrogen, created from a combination of natural gas and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-first-commercial-carbon-capture-facility-opens-2023-11">carbon capture and storage</a>.The process is considered carbon-neutral, but environmentalists say the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1">burning of natural gas</a> inherently means excess methane emissions — which is a much more potent greenhouse gas compared with CO2, though it doesn't sit in the atmosphere as long.According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://blogs.worldbank.org/energy/unleashing-power-hydrogen-clean-energy-transition">World Bank</a>, more than 98% of the world's hydrogen is made via natural gas or coal — meaning just a small portion is truly zero-emissions green hydrogen. "Gray" hydrogen — the same as blue minus the carbon capture — is the most abundant."It takes a lot of energy to capture the carbon dioxide, and that comes from burning even more natural gas," Robert Howarth, a professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell University, told Business Insider's Catherine Boudreau in October. "So it's not a surprise to me that the oil and gas industry likes the idea of blue hydrogen."However, Brian Korgel, the director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, told BI that the companies vying for hydrogen-hub funding had to meet strict criteria."There's some safeguards," Korgel said. "These projects have to meet emissions standards, and it's not in companies' benefit to do the smoke-and-mirrors thing because they won't get the grant money, which ratchets up over time."

Japan Airlines is looking at hydrogen-electric-powered aircraft as a solution to the aviation industry's carbon problem

<keyword id="4625572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-renewable-energy-development-agency" source="Orion">Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency</keyword> Ltd (<keyword id="391336" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ireda" source="Orion">IREDA</keyword>) has opened an office in <keyword id="6424024" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gift-city" source="Orion">GIFT City</keyword> at Gandhinagar which will specialise in providing debt options denominated in <keyword id="90766" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-currencies" source="Orion">foreign currencies</keyword> to facilitate natural hedging and significantly reduce the financing costs for green hydrogen and renewable energy manufacturing projects, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said on Thursday. The strategic initiative which would contribute to the country's journey towards a greener future was highlighted by IREDA chairman and managing director (CMD) Pradip Kumar Das at a panel discussion on 'Future Growth Opportunities for Long Duration <keyword id="1609428" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-storage" source="Orion">Energy Storage</keyword>', held at the World Future Energy Summit 2024 in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The IREDA CMD emphasised the critical role that energy storage will play in achieving the <keyword id="13194051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-green-hydrogen" source="Orion">National Green Hydrogen</keyword> Mission's ambitious target of producing over 5 million metric tons of hydrogen per annum by 2030. The CMD emphasised the need to enhance research and development efforts to reduce cost and improve the performance of energy storage solutions. It was necessary to implement policies that strengthen the supply chain network, and providing competitive and tailored financial solutions will encourage investment in energy storage projects, he added. India has taken active steps in this direction, which include the formulation of a storage requirement roadmap up to 2047, technology-agnostic storage tenders, and supportive government interventions for battery manufacturing and pumped storage hydropower projects. The Central Electricity Authority of India projects a storage requirement of nearly 400 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by 2030-32, with an estimated investment exceeding Rs 3.5 lakh crore.

IREDA's GIFT City branch to give special foreign currency loans for green projects

When it comes to automobiles, geography is destiny. What we drive is determined in large part by where we're driving. Sometimes the locational preferences are almost laughably stereotypical, like the prevalence of Subarus in Vermont and pickup trucks in Montana. Electric vehicles are favored in left-leaning enclaves, Jeep Wranglers excel in parts of Arizona, and Sprinter vans rank high in resort towns. The hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai — which is sold only in California — ranks at the top of all vehicles in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. Explore the United States of Automobiles• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-car-models-interactive-guide-politics-color-brand-location-2024-10">See where in America your vehicle is most popular</a>• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-models-owned-by-republicans-democrats-american-politics-jeep-2024-10">What our rides reveal about our politics</a>• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-car-colors-boring-black-white-gray-cost-cutting-2024-10">Cars used to be really colorful. What happened?</a>• <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/methodology-for-car-database-united-states-of-automobiles-2024-10">How we crunched the numbers</a> But when you delve deeper into <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/methodology-for-car-database-united-states-of-automobiles-2024-10">our database of 1.7 million car listings</a>, all sorts of geographic quirks emerge. Mississippi, for example, is the poorest state in the country. Yet in and around the state capital of Jackson, where per capita income exceeds the national average, five of the 10 most popular cars are Mercedes-Benzes. And up and down the California coast, a wide range of counties that share else little in common — including San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Marin — feature only foreign-made cars in their top-10 lists.Then there's the question of hometown advantage. For the most part, we found, Americans love the cars they help to build. In Rutherford County, Tennessee, where the nearby Nissan plant cranks out 2,500 vehicles a day, four of the 10 most popular cars are Nissans. In Dearborn, Michigan — the headquarters of Ford — five of the 10 favorite cars are Fords. (And none are foreign.) Sometimes the name alone is enough: In the Michigan county of Wexford, which centers around the town of Cadillac, the Cadillac DeVille ranks No. 6. But there are some exceptions to the company-town rule. Nine of the 10 most popular cars in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are foreign — yet not a single one of them is a BMW, whose nearby plant employs 100,000 people. And in Alameda County, California, whose Fremont plant turns out most of the country's Teslas, not a single one of the 10 favorite vehicles is a Tesla. The top EVs in the county where Elon Musk makes his EVs? The Toyota Prius and the VW eGolf.<h2 id="bc6d131b-7a59-409d-9d9b-d7d0e90b81ec">The cars your neighbors love the most</h2> Text by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/mark-healy">Mark Healy</a>, founder of Flipturn Creative Studios. Data by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/andrew-thompson">Andrew Thompson</a>, creator of <a target="_blank" href="https://components.one/">Components</a>, a cultural research project. Graphics by designer <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-de-lorenzo">Dan DeLorenzo</a> and data graphics fellow <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/kim-nguyen">Kim Nguyen</a>. Photo research by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/isabel-fernandez-pujol">Isabel Fernandez Pujol</a>.

From Subarus in Vermont to Dodge Rams in Montana, what we drive is shaped by where we live

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares says automakers will have a tough time if the EV transition slows.</li><li>This is because automakers will have to invest in both EVs and combustion-engine vehicles, he said.</li></ul>Automakers will find themselves in a "big trap" if the industry's transition toward electric vehicles slows down, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stellantis-leverages-its-management-organisation-with-changes-to-drive-performance-under-the-leadership-of-carlos-tavares-1033836989">Stellantis</a> CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stellantis-ceo-carlos-tavares-to-retire-in-early-2026-names-doug-ostermann-cfo-1033837036">Carlos Tavares</a> said on Monday.Tavares was speaking to the Financial Times on the sidelines of the Paris Motor Show when he weighed in on the EV transition."Making a transition for EVs longer is a big trap," Tavares said.This is because automakers will have to wrestle with higher costs as they have to invest in both electric and combustion-engine vehicles, Tavares told the Financial Times."When you make a longer transition, in fact, you don't replace the old world by the new one. You add up the new world to the old," he said.The European automaker owns brands like Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Peugeot. It's also invested in what it calls a "multi-energy platform." On <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.instagram.com/stellantistechai/reel/DBF_3tHJjao/">social media</a>, the company advertised this as a single chassis that "can power gasoline/diesel (or internal combustion engines), hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen or electric vehicles."Representatives for Tavares at Stellantis didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.The Stellantis chief's remarks come amid <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-ev-sales-prices-problem-transportation-2024-1">plunging EV sales</a> across Europe.According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, EV registrations fell by nearly 44% in August, compared to the same month a year ago.The dip was mainly driven by Germany, which saw a 69% decline in EV registrations.William Roberts, automotive research lead at battery consultancy Rho Motion, told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-sales-europe-slumping-warning-sign-us-2024-9">BI's Tom Carter</a> in September that the German government's decision to phase out subsidies in December severely dented consumer sentiment for EVs.Dylan Khoo, an analyst at technology intelligence firm ABI Research, told BI's Carter that the cooling demand for EVs was also because of the lack of affordable models in the EU."There are only a handful of models that you could really say are mass market, and even those are quite a bit more expensive than their gasoline counterparts," Khoo said.To be sure, Western automakers face both slowing demand and the challenge of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-crush-tesla-elon-musk-american-ev-industry-2024-2">steep competition</a> from their Chinese counterparts.According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/byd-saic-chinese-ev-makers-plot-world-takeover-2024-6">data compiled</a> by the technology firm ABI Research for BI, Chinese automakers accounted for 70% of the EV market in Thailand and 88% in Brazil in the first quarter of this year.Several auto chiefs have raised concerns about the rise of Chinese automakers. Take <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-chinese-automaker-byd-rose-to-challenge-tesla-2024-4">BYD</a>, one of Tesla's key rivals in the EV business.Ford CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-ceo-jim-farley-musk-tesla-cybertruck-dirt-hill-video-2023-11">Jim Farley</a> told a board member that he viewed the Chinese auto industry as an "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-ceo-cfo-left-shocked-after-chinese-ev-test-drive-2024-9">existential threat</a>" following a visit to China in May, The Wall Street Journal reported on September 14.On October 2, Mercedes-Benz CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-electric-cars-mercedes-benz-ola-kallenius-european-union-tariffs-2024-3">Ola Källenius</a> told attendees at the Berlin Global Dialogue conference that the Western auto industry was fighting an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/western-auto-chiefs-industry-locked-in-darwinian-battle-with-china-2024-10">existential battle</a> against their Chinese rivals."It's strange. It's a Darwinistic-like price war, market purification. And many of those players that are around now. Many of those are not going to be around five years from now," Källenius said.

Automakers will find themselves in a 'big trap' if the transition toward EVs slows down, Stellantis CEO says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Gov. Ron DeSantis urged EV owners to move vehicles to higher ground before Hurricane Helene arrived.</li><li>If an EV gets caught in flood waters, don't try to restart it, Tesla says.</li></ul>Ahead of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-damage-port-strike-could-hurt-us-economy-2024-9">Hurricane Helene'</a>s arrival in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis urged electric vehicle owners to get their vehicles to higher ground."Be careful about that getting inundated," he said at a news briefing last week. "It can cause fires."Helene, which began as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quartz-mine-computer-chips-hurricane-helene-spruce-pine-semiconductor-2024-9">category four hurricane</a>, made landfall in Florida on Thursday before moving northward into Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee.So far, it has killed at least 110 people, with hundreds more still missing. Around 2,000 people are still without power, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crejvrzxgjpt">BBC</a>.Amid the chaos, DeSantis' warning over electric vehicles is warranted, experts told Business Insider — and there are things EV owners should do to keep safe.<h2 id="8e9aa090-3fa8-490d-8625-f1461ba5147f">What EV owners should do</h2>Tesla and the American Automobile Association (AAA) echoed DeSantis' advice to get to higher ground before any possible flooding.If an EV has already been submerged in water, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tesla.com/support/submerged-vehicle-guidance">Tesla</a> warns owners not to attempt to start their vehicle.Instead, it recommends safely towing or moving a vehicle at least 50 feet from buildings or combustible material after an authorized engineer has examined it.However, it should still be treated with caution. Once the water recedes, the damage caused by submerging an EV in water remains.Richard Bucknall, head of mechanical engineering at University College London (UCL), told BI that lithium batteries in EVs "can short circuit if flooded, especially in seawater, leading to immediate overheating and potential fire and explosion.""No road vehicle should be considered roadworthy after saltwater flooding, whether it's an EV or anything else," Haresh Kamath, director of distributed energy resources at the Electric Power Research Institute told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/10/26/electric-vehicle-fires-florida-flooding-what-happened/10553207002/">USA Today</a> after Hurricane Ian hit Florida in 2022."If you've experienced saltwater flooding, you should not be driving or trying to drive or even start that vehicle. You shouldn't be getting into the vehicle."<h2 id="6415ca88-384b-4498-84a1-28fe02cd06a0">How big is the risk?</h2>The risks to EVs during flooding have been studied for several years, although stats are limited.According to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-electric-vehicles-fire-flooding-0284e2eb2accc0570361def4e963eda0">Associated Press</a>, Hurricane Ian compromised the batteries of as many as 5,000 EVs, with 36 catching fire.Lithium reacts violently with water and releases hydrogen gas in an exothermic reaction, with the gas catching fire. "Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect container where violent storms are concerned so it isn't a surprise to me or other engineers [that they could catch fire]," said Bucknall.According to Tesla, the number of fires in electric vehicles is significantly lower than in petrol and diesel cars. It <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tesla.com/VehicleSafetyReport">found</a> that between 2012 and 2022, around one Tesla vehicle fire occurred for every 130 million vehicle miles traveled.By comparison, data from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nfpa.org/en">National Fire Protection Association</a> and the US Department of Transportation indicates that one vehicle fire occurs in the US for every 18 million miles traveled.Adam Wojcik, a professor at UCL's Department of Engineering, said that EVs are less likely to catch fire than petrol cars. However, in a situation that involves flooding and contact with saltwater, the risks are higher."The only way of setting petrol on fire is with a spark, and it's probably unlikely that you would get a spark in a situation that is not a crash or an accident," he told BI."But if water gets into EV batteries, that's a different matter altogether."<h2 id="71d2bbb3-6bf7-411d-9fdf-d62b21d9e69c">Demand for EVs is stalling in the US</h2><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="media-ui-Link_link-tVkXhPLPofs-" href="https://about.bnef.com/">Last year, BloombergNEF</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-11-07/the-57-trillion-ev-market-is-a-battleground-for-china-us-eu">forecast</a> the total value of all forms of EV sales will hit $8.8 trillion by 2030 and $57 trillion by 2050.President Joe Biden set a target of having EVs make up half of all new cars sold in the US by 2030. However, demand for EVs in the US is falling.Only 34% of US shoppers planning to buy a vehicle in the next two years say they're likely to buy an EV, down from a year earlier.That's according to EY's annual <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ey.com/en_us/newsroom/2024/09/us-consumers-less-likely-to-purchase-an-ev-than-last-year">Mobility Consumer Index</a>, which surveyed 20,000 respondents in 28 countries who said they were considering buying a new car in the next 24 months.As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-charging-range-improving-americans-still-dont-want-electric-cars-2024-9">Business Insider previously reported,</a> this may be partly due to the fact that electric vehicle shoppers are now much more difficult to please than the enthusiastic early adopters of years past.Safety doesn't appear to be the main concern — at least for now. Around 24% of potential buyers cited range limitations as a top concern (and 23% said they were concerned about finding a place to plug in (down from 34%).

Ron DeSantis said EVs could catch fire if caught up in Hurricane Helene. Experts say he's right — and that you should take these steps to protect yourself.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hydrogen-energy-help-climate-crisis-but-still-hurdles-2023-10">Clean hydrogen fuel</a> may occur naturally in large underground reservoirs across the planet.</li><li>Big companies, startups, and the US government are all trying to tap into this carbon-free fuel.</li></ul>Believe it or not, drilling for a certain type of gas could open up a new world of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/white-hydrogen-france-clean-energy-climate-change-2023-10">clean energy</a>.Trillions of tons of lightweight, energy-dense hydrogen gas may be hidden deep underground. Those natural reservoirs, known as geologic hydrogen, could be a fruitful <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-first-commercial-carbon-capture-facility-opens-2023-11">carbon-free fuel</a> source.Geologic hydrogen is so promising that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-wealth-donations-charity-foundation-worlds-richest-people-list-2022-7">Bill Gates</a>, Amazon, and United Airlines are just some of the funders behind a startup called Koloma, which thinks it can tap into those reserves. Oil and gas giants BP and Chevron have joined a consortium to study geologic hydrogen. Even the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is interested. It held a hearing on the subject last week."The vast majority of the in-place hydrogen is likely to be in accumulations that are too deep, too far <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-powers-on-16-megawatt-offshore-wind-turbine-taiwan-strait-2023-7">offshore</a>, or too small to ever be economically recovered," Geoffrey Ellis, a USGS geologist, said in the February 28 hearing. "However, if even a small fraction of this amount could be recovered, that would constitute a significant resource."<div type="image" title="hydrogen power plant with tall stacks emitting steam clouds into a blue sky" height="1500" width="2242" msid="108310178" hostid="261"></div>Hydrogen burns clean, but manufacturing it takes a lot of energy and expense, and even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/urban-farming-gardening-carbon-footpring-study-produce-2024-2">creates carbon dioxide</a>. Still, it's a key pillar of President Joe Biden's clean-energy strategy, which is pumping $7 billion into seven hydrogen hubs across the country.Drawing from natural reservoirs of hydrogen would be much cleaner — if it's worth the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-approval-alaska-drilling-could-be-big-oils-last-surge-2023-3">drilling</a>.<h2>A hydrogen gold rush is beginning</h2>It's a relatively new prospect. In fact, scientists didn't believe it was possible for large amounts of hydrogen to accumulate underground until about 12 years ago, according to Ellis, who leads USGS efforts to map the world's potential reserves of underground hydrogen.That's when an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fossil-fuel-companies-spend-millions-to-promote-individual-responsibility-2021-3">oil and gas company</a> assessed a mine that had exploded in Mali and found it was full of hydrogen gas.Hydrogen forms deep underground when water reacts with iron-rich rock. In the US, two long stretches of this rock are a promising place to look for hydrogen reserves, and efforts are already underway.One stretch runs from Kansas up to Ontario, then down to Michigan. The other is offshore, running the length of New Jersey to Georgia, according to Ellis. USGS started looking for these reserves in 2021 and has drilled several wells, with more planned this year.Ellis told the Senate committee that research is also ongoing in France and Australia, and active exploration efforts are underway in Brazil and Colombia. In February, researchers announced they had discovered a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/researchers-discover-albanian-mine-could-be-hydrogen-source-2024-3">hydrogen reservoir in a mine in Albania</a>.<div type="image" title="Bulqizë chromite mine" height="396" width="594" msid="108310180" hostid="261"></div>"Companies exploring for geologic hydrogen use many of the same technologies that are used in the oil and gas industry," Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) said in the hearing. "In fact, many of the people exploring for hydrogen today spent their careers exploring for oil and gas."It's still unclear how much hydrogen is out there, or how much it will cost to extract it. So the DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy is doling out $20 million in grants to fund research on the subject, including the possibility of artificially stimulating the natural process that makes hydrogen underground."If our programs show success, this new source of hydrogen could lower energy costs and increase our nation's energy security and supply chains," Evelyn N. Wang, director of ARPA-E, told the Senate committee.Even so, the fuel would face some of the same challenges as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1">manufactured hydrogen</a>. There may not be enough infrastructure to transport it far and wide. In the process, any hydrogen that leaks into the atmosphere would react with other compounds to cause the atmosphere to trap more heat. That could cancel out hydrogen's climate advantage over fossil fuels."Nobody has all the answers today," Koloma CEO and cofounder Pete Johnson told the Senate committee. "But the early data looks very promising and I believe that geologic hydrogen can play a very large role as we work to decarbonize the US energy economy."

Vast reserves of clean hydrogen fuel could be hiding beneath our feet

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hydrogen has the potential to be a climate solution, but right now it's a dirty business.</li><li>The White House is spending $7 billion to spur "clean" hydrogen.</li><li>Some climate advocates, scientists worry that fossil-fuel companies will cash in. </li></ul>Most of us probably think of hydrogen in terms of H2O — the water we drink, bathe in, and cook with — but it has the potential to help build a low-carbon future.President Joe Biden <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/13/biden-harris-administration-announces-regional-clean-hydrogen-hubs-to-drive-clean-manufacturing-and-jobs/">is pouring up to $7 billion</a> into seven hydrogen hubs in regions including the Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest, and Appalachia. The goal is to spur the production of "clean" hydrogen, because the way it's currently produced is a dirty business.Most hydrogen is separated from methane in natural gas through an energy-intensive process that produces greenhouse-gas emissions responsible for warming the planet. Hydrogen is mainly used to refine oil and make chemical fertilizers, but experts say it can also be used for energy storage and as a fuel for long-haul trucks and airplanes. If the production process is cleaned up, it could help decarbonize industries that use hydrogen.But as with so many climate solutions, there's a debate over the best path forward. It boils down to this: Should hydrogen continue to be made from natural gas but paired with carbon-capture technology and storage? This is so-called "blue" hydrogen. Or should it be made from a renewable-energy powered process known as electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen? This is known as "green" hydrogen — an approach favored by many climate advocates. Both are still in the early stages of development.The White House said about two-thirds of the overall investment in hydrogen hubs will be associated with the green kind. That still didn't land well with some climate advocates and scientists, who <a target="_blank" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ese3.956">cite research suggesting that blue hydrogen</a> isn't clean at all."I think it's a scam," Robert Howarth, a professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell University, told Insider. "I don't use that word lightly."Howarth found <a target="_blank" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ese3.956">that blue hydrogen requires more natural gas,</a> and therefore produces more methane emissions. That's concerning because methane heats up the planet 80 times faster than carbon dioxide over a two-decade period, he said."It takes a lot of energy to capture the carbon dioxide, and that comes from burning even more natural gas," Howarth said. "So it's not a surprise to me that the oil and gas industry likes the idea of blue hydrogen."The Clean Air Task Force, an environmental nonprofit that's working with the US Department of Energy, hydrogen-hub project developers, and community-based groups, told Insider that they also support the White House's approach.Anna Menke, the task force's senior hydrogen-hubs manager, said she wants the debate to move away from green versus blue hydrogen because each technology has its pros and cons.Green hydrogen is more expensive and could lead to more emissions <a target="_blank" href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/acacb5">than its conventional version</a> if electrolyzers aren't powered by additional renewable energy on the grid, Menke said. She acknowledged that for blue hydrogen to truly be a climate solution, oil and gas companies must reduce methane leaks in their infrastructures and develop carbon-capture systems that trap a lot of emissions and store them permanently, <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/se/d1se01508g">according to US and European researchers</a>.Hydrogen hub projects that applied for federal funding had to meet a range of criteria, including low emissions targets, Brian Korgel, director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, told Insider. Korgel is working on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hyvelocityhub.com/">HyVelocity Hub along the Gulf Coast</a>, which was awarded $1.2 billion by the Biden administration and is led by companies including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Sempra Infrastructure.The project aims to demonstrate that both blue and green hydrogen can be made with low emissions at a competitive cost, while creating jobs and other benefits for disadvantaged communities. Korgel's team at the Energy Institute is conducting environmental and economic analyses of the project."There's some safeguards," Korgel said. "These projects have to meet emissions standards, and it's not in companies' benefit to do the smoke and mirrors thing because they won't get the grant money, which ratchets up over time."Korgel noted that the federal definition of "clean" hydrogen has been evolving, but should be more clear soon.An unlikely government agency could settle the debate. The Internal Revenue Service has to decide what "clean" hydrogen is eligible for a tax credit worth up to an estimated $100 billion over its lifetime.

Can hydrogen be green? The debate heats up as the White House pours $7 billion into hydrogen hubs

New Delhi, India's top oil firm IOC on Monday unveiled the nation's first <keyword id="18906554" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-hydrogen-powered-bus" source="Orion">green hydrogen-powered bus</keyword> that emits just water as it takes the lead in bringing out unrivaled tools to replace fossil fuels. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will produce close to 75 kg of hydrogen by splitting water using electricity from renewable sources. This hydrogen will be used to power two buses which will ply across the national capital region for trial runs. Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, flagging off the buses, said hydrogen will be India's transition fuel for moving away from fossil fuels. IOC's R&amp;D Centre at Faridabad is producing green hydrogen for the pilot run. Four cylinders with a capacity of 30 kg can run the buses for 350 km. It takes 10-12 minutes for the four tanks to fill. Hydrogen when burnt emits only water vapour as a by-product. With three times the energy density and the absence of harmful emissions, hydrogen shines as a cleaner, more efficient choice to meet the energy requirement. As much as 50 units of renewable electricity and 9 kg of deionized water are needed for the production of one kilo of green hydrogen. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel for fuel cells. Puri said by the end of 2023, IOC will scale up the number of buses to 15. IOC will undertake operational trials of 15 fuel cell buses powered by green hydrogen on the identified routes in Delhi, Haryana, and UP. Under this programme, the first set of 2 fuel cell buses was launched on Monday. "Our government has ambitious plans on clean and green energy. India has taken many steps towards low carbon development- through emerging fuels like hydrogen and bio-fuels and shall account for 25 per cent of global incremental energy demand growth over the next two decades," Puri said. Upon the launch of the two buses, a cumulative mileage of more than 3 lakh kilometers will be covered for long-term assessment of performance and durability of the new technology. India has one of the largest synchronous grids in the world, capable of handling intermittent renewable energy and it has achieved 'One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency'. "With the low cost solar, synchronous grid, large demand and engineering, India will be a global champion in production and exports of hydrogen and is set to emerge as the hub for green hydrogen," he said. Puri said recently the world's first BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype was launched that encompasses both the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain that offers higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies. Hydrogen is deemed as the fuel for the future with immense potential to help India meet its decarbonization targets. The global demand for hydrogen is expected to increase by four to seven times to 500-800 tonne by 2050. Domestic demand is expected to increase by four times, from the current 6 tonne at present to 25-28 tonne by 2050. Oil and gas PSUs shall produce around 1 million tonne per annum of green hydrogen by 2030. "This green <keyword id="14355451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hydrogen-powered-bus" source="Orion">hydrogen-powered bus</keyword> is going to transform the face of city transport in the country. I shall be closely monitoring the project and wish you all the very best for successfully executing this project of national importance," he added. "The success of this project can catapult India from being a net importer of fossil energy to becoming a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy; and provide global leadership to other countries in terms of technology transfer while becoming a large green hydrogen producer and supplier of manufacturing parts."

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