The Hydrogen Stream: NTPC to produce green hydrogen from municipal solid waste, agri-waste using plasma-based oxy gasification technology

The demonstration plant will produce about 1 tonne of green hydrogen per day by gasifying about 25 tonnes of municipal solid waste or agri-waste per day.

November 4, 2024 Uma Gupta and Sergio Matalucci

NTPC embarks to produce green hydrogen from MSW-EDF/agri-waste using plasma based oxy gasification technology

Image: NTPC

NETRA, the R&D wing of NTPC Ltd, is setting up a green hydrogen production plant using plasma oxy gasification of municipal solid waste (MSW) and agri-waste. “Upon set-up, it shall be a unique plant globally, wherein plasma assisted ‘oxy gasification’ of MSW-RDF/agri-waste shall be carried to produce ‘very high quality syn-gas’, from which high purity hydrogen (>99.9%) shall be separated using a novel configuration of ‘gas membrane’ and ‘pressure swing adsorption,’ stated NTPC.

This demonstration plant will produce about 1 tonne of green hydrogen per day by gasifying about 25 tonnes of MSW/agri-waste per day. Besides, carbon mono-oxide separated from the hydrogen recovery system will be used to produce electricity using a low calorie gas engine.

NTPC stated that other than electrolysis, which is a highly energy intensive process (55-60 kWh/kg H2), gasification and reformation of MSW/agri-waste is the only pathway to produce green hydrogen. This cutting-edge technology is in line with NETRA’s commitment to undertake research projects and demonstrate technologies for achieving energy transition goals and NTPC’s commitment for adopting ‘circular economy’ models.

The UK government said it is funding 11 new green hydrogen projects across England, Scotland, and Wales, which it claims will be among the first commercial-scale projects in the world. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the funding plan during in a fall 2024 budget speech, allocating GBP 3.9 billion ($5 billion) for green hydrogen producers and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) projects in the 2025-26 period. The government selected the projects, which have a cumulative capacity of 125 MW, in December 2023, as part of the first hydrogen allocation round (HAR1) that was launched in July 2022. The government awarded them contracts for difference at a weighted average strike price of GBP 241/MWh.

RWE has secured the necessary construction and environmental permits to build a 100 MW electrolyzer in Eemshaven, the Netherlands. “If built, the electrolyzer will contribute to the onshore energy system integration plans associated with the 795 MW OranjeWind offshore wind project in the Dutch North Sea, which RWE is realising together with its joint venture partner TotalEnergies,” said RWE.

Hyundai Motor has unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept. The South Korean automotive company has equipped the car with aerodynamic wheels to reduce drag wrapped in low rolling resistance tires “for a targeted driving range of more than 650 km between refueling.” The electric motor output is up to 150 kW. The car’s production version is set to launch in the first half of 2025.

Masdar appears to have delayed its target of producing 1 million tons of green hydrogen from 2030 to 2034, according to a Bloomberg report that the company’s press office has neither confirmed or denied. “We remain committed to supporting the objectives set out under the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy, as well as to delivering on our ambitions of becoming a leading green hydrogen producer globally by 2030,” the company told pv magazine. It said in a recent press release about the completion of a pilot project that uses green hydrogen to produce green steel in the United Arab Emirates, which it aims to achieve within a decade.

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