Low-Cost Mobile Hydrogen Refuelling Stations: A Cost-Effective Solution for India's Sustainable Transportation”
The likely depletion of fossil fuel reserves in the next fifty years and growing environmental concerns caused by petroleum fuel-based vehicles highlight the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. India, a developing country, requires a significant amount of energy to sustain its growth, most of which is imported. Hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels and offers sustainable pathways to a low-carbon future. The government of India has already launched a Green Hydrogen mission and has set up a very ambitious target for 2030. However, the absence of adequate refueling infrastructure is a significant blockade to India's widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The mobile hydrogen refueling station (MHRS) is a flexible system that enables lower initial capital costs than fixed hydrogen refueling stations and allows for the gradual build-up of hydrogen mobility fleets. Such a system could be very useful in India, and it integrates advanced safety features, including hydrogen leak detectors, pressure and temperature sensors, flame detectors, and gas composition analyzers, to ensure the safe dispensing of hydrogen. Such a system can significantly boost local economies by creating employment opportunities at various hydrogen supply chain stages and reducing air pollution. These can dispense hydrogen at both 350 bar and 700 bar pressures, ensuring compliance with international safety standards such as ISO 14687 and ISO/TR 15916.
This paper studies the design and economics of a low-cost, scalable Mobile Hydrogen dispensing system. It evaluates its cost-effectiveness, scalability, safety, socio-economic, and environmental impact (using Life Cycle Analysis) in a developing country like India. The results of the study are very promising and suggest that MHRS has a sustainable future in India.