Worldwide hydrogen consumption is nearly to 97 million tonnes tonnes per year in sectors. Hydrogen market is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. Most of the hydrogen we currently use comes from fossil fuels. S-Watt team has found a way to extract green hydrogen from biomass, a renewable energy source. The greatest challenge for hydrogen production, particularly from renewable resources, is providing hydrogen at lower cost.
The biomass gasifier developed in this process produces Syngas with high H2/CO of 3:1. This is because, the gasifying agent steam also contains hydrogen. It participates in both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. It can produce blue hydrogen in a range of 86 – 100 gms H2/ kg of biomass. The production of hydrogen using this process is environmentally benign – it is carbon negative. The two by-products from process residue ash and carbon dioxide, can be used in other value-added products.
This technology is a step towards achieving the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat of the Honourable Prime Minister. The technology also aligns nicely with the National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap, an initiative of the Government of India that aims to promote the use of hydrogen as a fuel and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.