Last update:December 24, 2024, 5:07 p.m. IST

CRUT will oversee the maintenance of the hydrogen buses, NTPC will take care of hydrogen production and GRIDCO will ensure a constant supply of renewable energy.

The project, which is to be rolled out over the next five years, defines clear responsibilities for each partner. (Photo: TNIE)

As part of the launch of a green hydrogen mobility project in Odisha, a tripartite agreement has been signed between three state agencies, an official said on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed on Monday by Tirumala Nayak, Managing Director of Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Trilochan Panda, Managing Director of Grid Corporation of Odisha Limited (GRIDCO), and NTPC CGM MR Panda, in the presence of Deputy Minister in Odisha chief KV Singhdeo and housing and town planning. Development Minister KC Mohapatra, the official said.

The agreement which will be implemented over the next five years has defined the key roles and responsibilities of the three entities involved.

While CRUT has been given the responsibility of maintaining hydrogen-powered buses, NTPC will focus on hydrogen production and GRIDCO will ensure renewable energy supply, the official said.

This hydrogen bus will go a long way in providing a permanent solution to climate change in the state, said principal secretary, housing and urban development department, Usha Padhi.

As part of the National Mission on Green Hydrogen, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued guidelines for the implementation of pilot projects for the use of green hydrogen in the transport sector.

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARIA) has invested Rs 19.5 crore in this pilot project. After the successful implementation of the project, the state will reduce the use of diesel buses and introduce more green hydrogen buses in the coming days. This will help reduce carbon emissions and improve public transport, an official note said.

Three hydrogen buses will be deployed by NTPC. These buses were designed to replace diesel buses by providing a sustainable alternative to the public. One kilogram of hydrogen will allow a bus to travel 12 km. Each bus has 42 seats for passengers and has a range of up to 600 km on 58 kg of fuel.

NTPC will set up a hydrogen production plant at the CRUT depot located at Gadakan in Bhubaneswar. NTPC will be able to generate hydrogen gas using the existing ETP and STP plants at the CRUT depot.

The Ministry of Power has requested the Department of General Administration and Public Grievances to allot two acres of land to NTPC. GRIDCO will supply 2 MW of electricity from the nearby substation.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)