NTPC Signs Agreement with Indian Army for Hydrogen-Based Microgrid in Ladakh
Key Ideas
- NTPC and Indian Army signed a 25-year agreement for supplying 200 kW of round-the-clock renewable energy from a solar-hydrogen based microgrid in Ladakh.
- The project aims to replace Army's diesel gensets, reduce CO2 emissions by 1,500 tonnes annually, and modernize the defense sector in Himalayan border locations.
- The hydrogen based off-grid microgrid project is considered the world's most unique, operating at an altitude of 4,400 m and surviving temperatures as low as -30 deg C.
NTPC, a major power company in India, has entered into an agreement with the Indian Army to provide 200 kW of constant renewable energy from a solar-hydrogen based microgrid in Ladakh. This power purchase agreement spans 25 years, with the project located at Chushul in Ladakh. The initiative is designed to replace the Army's current diesel gensets, eliminating the need for logistics related to fossil fuels and cutting down on approximately 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. NTPC highlighted the significance of this project, stating that it is a groundbreaking hydrogen based off-grid microgrid operating in harsh conditions at an altitude of 4,400 m where temperatures can drop to -30 deg C during winter. The successful implementation of this project is expected to bring about a new phase of decarbonisation and advancement in the defense sector, particularly in the challenging terrains of the Himalayan border.