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"It would not be an exaggeration that India's very future depends on seeking viable alternative energy options that include nuclear, renewable and solar energy hydrogen systems."

New Delhi , Nov. 21

THE Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr K.C. Pant, on Friday said that India's very future depends on seeking viable alternative energy options to fast-depleting fossil fuels, particularly hydrocarbons.

Addressing the ministerial meeting of the International Partnerships for a Hydrogen Economy in Washington, Mr Pant said that India's energy imports are expected to escalate to twice the current levels within the next 10 years. This would push the country's import dependence for commercial energy to around 45 per cent compared to the extant level of 30 per cent.

This would occur around the same time that world hydrocarbon production peaks and prices begin to rise, he said, adding that the sustainability of business-as-usual approach in India's energy sector was in doubt. Hence, he said, "it would not be an exaggeration that India's very future depends on seeking viable alternative energy options that include nuclear, renewable, clean coal technologies, coal-based synthetic fuel systems and solar energy hydrogen systems.

In this context, he said, India seeks to be part of the global coalition leading technological advances in the field of energy. "I believe that India could play a critical role in helping realise the US-led Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's vision of a carbon-free hydrogen economy. Thus, India, as an active player, can contribute meaningfully to hydrogen research aimed at overcoming the technical, economic barriers to actualising the hydrogen economy," Mr Pant noted.

Pointing out that there were distinct differences in the determinants for a hydrogen economy in India and the US, Mr Pant said with half of its population still without access to electricity, India's motivation for a hydrogen economy was largely driven by the demand for distributed power generation and demand for energy to fuel industrial growth. In the US, on the other hand, he said, the automobile sector was the primary driver for a hydrogen economy.

"Within the automotive sector, India's quest for hydrogen-fuelled vehicle is driven more by the two- and three-wheeler segment, that is likely to achieve commercialisation based on metal hydride storage and direct combustion of hydrogen ahead of fuel cell based cars and buses. Despite such differences, the basic building blocks to be developed through research remain essentially the same," Mr Pant observed.

Mr Pant concluded by stressing on the commonality of interest among participating countries and sought a partnership based on mutual appreciation of individual strengths and an equitable sharing of the research effort to realise the "vision of the hydrogen economy by the first half of this century. International partnership for hydrogen energy is the first step in this direction."

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