NTPC launches green hydrogen buses in Leh

The Green Hydrogen Mobility Project at Leh comprises in-situ 1.7 MW solar plant, green hydrogen filling station of capacity 80 kg/day and 5 hydrogen intra-city buses. Each bus can cover 300 km per single filling of hydrogen of 25 kg.

New Delhi - Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal flagged off NTPC's fleet of green hydrogen buses in Leh, joined by senior officials from the Ministry of Power, Leh Administration, and NTPC. He praised NTPC's contributions to India's energy security and decarbonisation, highlighting their adoption of hydrogen technologies in mobility, PNG blending, green methanol, and renewable energy initiatives.

The Green Hydrogen Mobility Project at Leh comprises in-situ 1.7 MW solar plant, green hydrogen filling station of capacity 80 kg/day and 5 hydrogen intra-city buses. Each bus can cover 300 km per single filling of hydrogen of 25 kg.  This is also the world’s highest altitude (3650m MSL) Green Hydrogen Mobility Project that is designed to operate in low density air, sub-zero temperature and can fill hydrogen at 350 bar pressure.

This station shall mitigate the carbon emissions of approx. 350 MT/year and contribute 230 MT/year of pure oxygen into the atmosphere which is equal to planting of approx. 13000 trees.

Potential of green hydrogen mobility solution in Ladakh is very strong considering the high solar irradiance with low temperature, a sweet spot for producing the solar power and green hydrogen efficiently. Production and utilisation of this green fuel at these locations would avoid the fossil fuel logistics and make the locations self-sufficient in terms of energy requirement.

NTPC is setting up more hydrogen mobility projects across India in addition to deployment of various green hydrogen technologies, rapidly scaling up of RE capacity including setting up of hydrogen hub in Andhra Pradesh.