The world is exploring alternatives to fossil fuels, with a more rigorous focus on Electric Vehicles but other options are gaining attention. The prime concerns are environmental damages and way outs to minimise greenhouse gases and their impact. Solar energy, wind energy, wave energy and even geothermal energy are right now targeted sources of energy. Another cleanest form is hydrogen because reason being easy availability of main source water, no carbon emissions and fewer efforts required. India is also focusing in a big way on alternatives, solar and wind are already tapped with Rajasthan leading in solar energy production and Ladakh going to be the country’s hub of solar energy in the coming days. Near about twenty thousand crores has been earmarked for the hydrogen revolution, to do the R&D and capacity building and in return, eight lakh crore of investment is expected to generate lakhs of jobs, one lakh crore reduction in fossil fuel bills and 50 million metric ton reduction in greenhouses. Vehicles, steel plants, oil refineries, and all big guzzlers of energy will shift to hydrogen alternatives as 170 GW is the target by 2030.
The enthusiasm and intents are fine but practical difficulties are there which cannot be ignored at all. The huge cost of R&D to develop vehicles based on hydrogen, enormous finances required for new manufacturing plants for vehicles and hurdles like land, skill development and trained workforce are there. The development of parallel infra for hydrogen fuel is another factor. It is fact that despite much hyped solar power not much has been achieved even in Ladakh with land and other niggling issues still to be sorted out. Hypothetical plans are music to ears but the final melodious tune has to pass through many phases. Much laudable are government efforts to search for alternatives as other advanced countries are doing but consistent efforts are required to make dreams a reality. Efforts to remove hurdles will ultimately be deciding factor in the long run. Right step in the right direction all we can say right now.
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