Ladakh: India has marked a significant step towards green mobility with the debut of hydrogen-fuelled buses on the public roads of Ladakh. Spearheaded by the state-owned NTPC, trial runs have commenced in Leh as part of the company’s broader objective of establishing a Carbon-Neutral Ladakh.
The initiative by NTPC involves introducing five fuel-cell buses for Leh’s intracity routes and establishing a Hydrogen Fuelling Station and a 1.7 MW Solar Plant to support clean energy. This integrated Green Hydrogen Mobility Project, standing at an impressive altitude of 11,562 ft, showcases buses designed to operate in challenging conditions characterized by sub-zero temperatures and a thin atmosphere.
As part of the field trials and various procedural verifications, the inaugural hydrogen bus arrived in Leh on August 17. NTPC, driven by its commitment to secure 60 GW of Renewable Energy capacity by 2032, aspires to be a forerunner in Green Hydrogen Technology and Energy Storage. The company’s focus on decarbonization has led to several ventures, including Hydrogen blending, Carbon Capture, EV buses, and the development of eco-friendly NTPC townships.
This pioneering project aligns with the National Hydrogen Mission, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during India’s 75th Independence Day celebrations in 2021, as a strategic move to combat climate change.
In related news, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to the roads of Ladakh, biking towards the mesmerizing Pangong Lake. Commemorating his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday, Rahul admired the lake’s beauty on social media. This journey holds significance as it’s his maiden visit to Ladakh since the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019.