Powered by Hydrogen, Driven by Green Spirit

The world is scrambling to transform transportation with green fuels. India may be inching closer to its green energy goals with a device that promises to do what many have long aspired — produce green hydrogen using only the sun. Developed at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Karnataka under the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), this solar-powered innovation has drawn attention for its potential to reshape how the country approaches clean fuel. But as excitement mounts, experts remind us that innovation alone won’t fuel the future.

Sunnyside Breakthrough

The device, created by a research team led by Prof. Ashutosh K. Singh at CeNS, uses a photoelectrochemical (PEC) process to split water molecules using solar energy. “The device uses a photoelectrochemical (PEC) process where sunlight is absorbed by a specially designed photoelectrode. In our case, we have an n-i-p heterojunction photoanode (FTO/ TiO2/Si/NiO).

This structure improves light absorption across the full solar spectrum, effectively generating electron-hole pairs,” says Prof. Singh. In conventional hydrogen production, energy-intensive methods like coal gasification and steam methane reforming dominate, leaving behind carbon emissions. Singh’s device avoids fossil fuels altogether. “This solar-powered PEC approach produces only green hydrogen and oxygen as byproducts, making it clean, renewable, and truly sustainable,” he says.

At the heart of the device lies the n-i-p silicon photoanode. The team layered titanium dioxide (TiO2), amorphous silicon, and nickel oxide (NiO) onto a transparent FTO substrate using magnetron sputtering—a technique chosen deliberately for its industrial scalability. “Designing and fabricating it was challenging due to the selection of materials for the heterojunction for proper charge movement,” says Singh. Other hurdles included controlling crystallinity, ensuring adhesion, and maintaining stability under alkaline PEC conditions. But the result is a device that can achieve high photovoltage and low onset potential with earth-abundant materials, something long considered a benchmark for sustainable hydrogen innovation. The CeNS team also had scalability in mind from the outset. “Mass production and real-world application were always part of our plan… it is already an industrially proven and scalable technique,” says Singh.

A Gamechanger

Given India’s massive solar potential and rising energy demand, a device like this could revolutionize everything from residential power supply to hydrogen-based transport. But optimism must be tempered with perspective. Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of The Energy Resources and Institute (TERI), echoes the need for realism: “PEC technologies align well with circular economy principles and India's solar strengths, but they're still at Technology Readiness Level 2–3. We must invest in pilot-scale demonstrations, low-cost catalyst synthesis, and international collaboration if we want these innovations to contribute meaningfully to our 2030 targets.”

Prof. Suddhasatwa Basu, a hydrogen energy researcher at IIT Delhi, feels the focus should not just be on isolated innovations, but systemic change. “This has been there for ages, the last 40 years. The first fuel cell or electrolyzer was developed in 1870, even before that—1835, one demonstrated by William Grove,” he says. Prof. Basu explains that the idea of solar or renewable power to split water has been around since 1970 or 1980. “But it was not commercially viable due to cost. Now photovoltaic and wind power costs have come down, and electrolyzers have improved,” he says.

For India to truly compete in the global hydrogen economy, challenges in cost, storage, and infrastructure need immediate attention. “Hydrogen is the lightest gas. To store it, you need to compress it to very high pressure. That requires a lot of energy,” Prof. Basu explains. Even when solar-based hydrogen is produced at Rs 300–400/kg, the need for storage at 200–400 bar pushes the effective cost to nearly Rs 1000/kg.

The other issue? Market demand. India is in a good position… But we need to do more so that once we catch up to the market, it will automatically become more efficient, more durable, and cheaper.

Green Mission

India’s green hydrogen ambitions are being guided by the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in January 2023 with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore. The Mission aims to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, alongside the development of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity. Dhawan says, “The NGHM has created strong top-down momentum, but demand-side incentives like viability gap funding and Contracts-for-Difference are still missing. Without clear offtake commitments, private sector players will hesitate to scale.”

However, Singh believes that the solar-PEC path is viable not just technically but economically, if paired with the right ecosystem. “Our solar-based PEC process is highly sustainable and cost-effective because it relies on renewable sunlight, with minimum external bias and earth-abundant, inexpensive materials… avoiding costly noble metals,” he says.

In the real-world applications, it could include decentralized rooftop hydrogen units, industrial supply for steel and fertilizer sectors, or hydrogen-powered mobility systems.

Experts opine that there is a need for government and industry collaboration. Dhawan agrees that think tanks and institutions like TERI must play a bridging role. Dhawan says, “We help bring together researchers, industry, and policymakers to identify techno-economically viable models and ensure promising technologies like PEC don’t stay stuck in labs.”

Prof. Basu points to initiatives already underway, like the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), hydrogen hubs, and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes. “We must wait two years or so to see what happens on the field. I can list out 10–12 companies already into making megawatt-range electrolyzers,” he says. But he also cautioned against policy complacency. “Some tax benefits should be given to the producers and users… fossil fuel is cheaper and well-established. You cannot expect clean hydrogen to compete without help,” he argues. For Singh and his team, the goal is clear: to push innovation forward, scale responsibly, and help India reach its clean fuel targets. “Achieving these encouraging results means a lot to us as researchers. It shows that designing heterojunctions using smart materials with upscalable techniques is the way forward to achieve affordable hydrogen fuel goals, which is Rs 200 per kg by 2030,” he says.

On The Right Track

Recently, the Indian Railways achieved a major milestone by successfully testing the nation’s first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared on X saying: “First hydrogen-powered coach (Driving Power Car) successfully tested at ICF, Chennai. India is developing a 1,200 HP hydrogen train. This will place India among the leaders in hydrogen-powered train technology.” The Indian Railways plans to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative. Union Road, Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari drives around in a Hydrogen-powered fuel cell car.

Ultimately, India’s green hydrogen dream won’t hinge on a single device or research paper. It will depend on whether science, policy, and market demand can finally align in time to change the future of fuel.