Rising Temperatures and Health Risks

One of the most alarming effects of climate change is the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves. In recent years, cities like Delhi have witnessed soaring temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius. This rise in temperature disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including infants, the elderly, and pregnant women. Heat-related illnesses, such as heat strokes, heat exhaustion, and dehydration, have become more prevalent, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Additionally, extreme heat can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Several factors contribute to this extreme heat, including rapid urbanization and the proliferation of concrete structures. The loss of natural water bodies and green spaces exacerbates urban heat island effects, making cities significantly warmer than their rural counterparts. To combat this, urban planning must prioritize the preservation of lakes, ponds, and green corridors while implementing solutions such as reflective rooftops, green roofs, and solar panel integration to minimize heat absorption. Furthermore, the implementation of early warning systems for heatwaves, coupled with public awareness campaigns on heat safety, can significantly reduce heat-related health risks.

The Impact of Poor Urban Planning on Flooding

Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized that poor urban planning has led to increased incidents of urban flooding in cities like Chennai and Kerala. Illegal constructions, deforestation, and unplanned settlements have disrupted natural drainage systems, resulting in recurrent floods that displace thousands and damage infrastructure. These floods not only cause immediate health risks like drowning and injuries but also lead to long-term health consequences due to waterborne diseases, displacement, and mental health issues.

While relocating established communities is challenging, measures such as improved drainage systems, afforestation, and the incorporation of sustainable urban design can help mitigate the risks. Learning from ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley, which had efficient water management systems, can inform modern strategies to address urban flooding. Additionally, the implementation of green infrastructure solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavements can help absorb excess rainwater and reduce flood risks.

Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change

The loss of biodiversity is another significant consequence of climate change. The introduction of non-native species, such as water hyacinths, has disrupted local ecosystems by depleting oxygen levels in water bodies, leading to the decline of aquatic life and affecting the availability of fish as a food source. Similarly, species like eucalyptus and avocado trees, though beneficial in some aspects, have exacerbated water scarcity due to their high water consumption, impacting agriculture and human health.

Dr. Bhattacharya suggested focusing on native plant species and sustainable agricultural practices to restore ecological balance. She cited examples of innovative solutions such as phytoremediation using duckweed, which naturally purifies contaminated water bodies while supporting biodiversity. Additionally, the conservation of forests and wetlands, along with the promotion of agroforestry, can play a vital role in preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change impacts.

Antibiotic Resistance and Emerging Contaminants

One of the more alarming discussions revolved around the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The excessive use of antibiotics in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture, coupled with improper disposal practices, has led to the contamination of water bodies, soil, and even the air, fostering the emergence and spread of drug-resistant bacteria. The presence of pharmaceutical waste and other emerging contaminants like microplastics and endocrine disruptors in untreated water supplies further exacerbates this issue, posing a significant risk to human and environmental health.

To address AMR, hospitals must implement dedicated wastewater treatment systems to prevent untreated medical waste from entering the environment. Additionally, advancements in bioreactors and natural water filtration techniques using plant-based solutions offer promising approaches to tackling this challenge. Furthermore, stricter regulations on antibiotic use and disposal, along with the development of new antibiotics and alternative therapies, are crucial in combating AMR.

Innovative Climate Solutions and the Role of Policy

Several green innovations, such as biodegradable plastics, algae-based fuels, biofuels, biofertilizers, renewable energy technologies, and carbon capture and storage, have the potential to mitigate climate change impacts. However, their widespread adoption remains limited due to high costs, lack of awareness, policy inertia, and vested interests in fossil fuels.

Government intervention plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable alternatives. Stricter regulations on plastic use, incentives for renewable energy adoption, carbon pricing mechanisms, and improved monitoring of industrial waste disposal can accelerate the transition to a greener future. Public awareness campaigns, community-driven conservation efforts, and international collaboration also hold immense potential in fostering sustainable practices and addressing the global challenge of climate change.

Conclusion

Climate change is not merely an environmental issue—it is a public health crisis that demands immediate and collective action. By integrating sustainable urban planning, promoting biodiversity conservation, addressing antimicrobial resistance, and embracing innovative climate solutions, we can turn the tide against the adverse effects of climate change on health and healthcare.

The insights shared by Dr. Bhattacharya underscore the urgency of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling climate-related health challenges. As individuals, communities, and policymakers, it is imperative that we work together to build a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come. This requires a paradigm shift towards a more holistic and preventive approach to health, recognizing the interconnectedness of human health and the environment. Only by working together can we safeguard our planet and ensure a healthy future for all.

Composed by:

InnoHEALTH magazine digital team

The post Turning the Tide: Proactive Solutions for Climate Change and Health appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

This isn’t just a California problem. Around the world, disasters like these are becoming terrifyingly common. Floods, hurricanes, heatwaves, and wildfires are no longer “natural” disasters—they are man-made, supercharged by climate change and global warming. The scale of devastation over the past decade has left countries reeling, and the warnings scientists have issued for years are no longer theoretical. We are living in the age of climate crisis.

California: A State Under Siege

In California, the flames rage on, fueled by high winds, dry vegetation, and record-breaking heat. Communities are being evacuated in droves, leaving people to wonder if they will have a home to return to. One resident from Los Angeles described the chaos:

“Thank you for checking in. I’m doing okay. For the first time today, the fires have been somewhat contained with significant air support, but strong winds are expected to return tonight and continue until Wednesday. The air remains toxic, with ash falling everywhere like rain, and even our water sources are now polluted with toxins. Many evacuation orders are still in place, and my office has no power due to widespread downed power lines. I’m hoping the situation in LA improves soon. As a city, we are starting to wake up to the immense loss and face the harsh reality of what has happened. Right now, everyone feels numb.”

This numbness is a sentiment felt not just in California but across the world as disasters of this scale become increasingly routine.

A Decade of Global Disasters

Over the past ten years, our planet has endured relentless destruction. Entire cities have been submerged by floods in Pakistan and Germany. Coastal villages in Asia and Africa have been wiped out by cyclones and hurricanes. Blistering heatwaves have dried up rivers in Europe and killed crops in South America. Massive wildfires have ravaged Australia, the Amazon, and Siberia.

The connection between these events is undeniable: a rapidly warming planet is pushing natural systems beyond their limits.

The Science of the Crisis

Climate change isn’t just a looming threat—it’s here, and its fingerprints are all over these disasters. Rising global temperatures dry out vegetation, turning forests into tinderboxes. Warmer oceans feed stronger storms, and melting glaciers raise sea levels, intensifying floods. Heatwaves are hotter, longer, and more widespread than ever before.

What was once considered “extreme weather” is now becoming the norm. Scientists have been warning about this for decades: if we continue on this path, these disasters will only get worse, more frequent, and more deadly.

The Human and Environmental Cost

The toll of these disasters is immeasurable. Lives are lost, families are displaced, and communities are left shattered. For many, the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the land they call home are no longer safe. Wildlife is being pushed to the brink, and ecosystems are collapsing under the pressure.

Economically, the cost of rebuilding is staggering, draining resources that could have been used for sustainable development. The long-term mental and emotional scars left by these disasters are often overlooked but deeply felt.

A Global Responsibility

California’s wildfires, like floods in Pakistan or droughts in Africa, are a global problem. The solutions must also be global. It’s no longer enough to talk about reducing emissions or planting trees—action is needed now. Governments, corporations, and individuals must work together to transition to renewable energy, protect vulnerable ecosystems, and build resilience to the impacts we can no longer avoid.

A Call to Action

The fires in California are more than a disaster—they’re a warning. The planet is reaching its breaking point, and the window for meaningful action is closing. As one witness in Los Angeles said, “We are starting to wake up to the immense loss and face the harsh reality of what has happened.”

That reality doesn’t have to be our future. But the time to act is now—before the next fire, the next flood, or the next storm takes even more from us. This is our moment to choose: let the world burn or fight to save it. The choice couldn’t be clearer.

Composed by:

InnoHEALTH magazine digital team

The post California Wildfires: A Dire Reality Linked to Climate Change appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Heatwaves are one of the most visible and tangible manifestations of climate change, with profound impacts on human health, ecosystems, and socio-economic systems. As the planet warms due to greenhouse gas emissions, the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves have been increasing, posing significant challenges for societies worldwide. This essay explores the intricate relationship between heatwaves and climate change, delving into the causes, consequences, and potential mitigation strategies.

Causes of Heatwaves:

At its core, heatwaves result from the interaction of complex atmospheric processes, exacerbated by human-induced climate change. The primary drivers include:

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to a gradual increase in global temperatures and more frequent occurrences of extreme heat events.

The global surface concentration of CO2, averaged across all 12 months of 2023, was 419.3 parts per million (ppm), an increase of 2.8 ppm during the year.

Three consecutive years of CO2  growth of 2 ppm or more had not been seen in NOAA’s monitoring records prior to 2014. Atmospheric CO2 is now more than 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.

The 2023 methane increase over 2022 was 10.9 ppb, lower than the record growth rates seen in 2020 (15.2 ppb), 2021(18 ppb)  and 2022 (13.2 ppb), but still the 5th highest since renewed methane growth started in 2007. Methane levels in the atmosphere are now more than 160% higher than their pre-industrial level.

2. Atmospheric Circulation Patterns: Natural climate variability, such as El Niño and La Niña events, can influence atmospheric circulation patterns, exacerbating heatwave conditions. For instance, the amplification of high-pressure systems can result in prolonged periods of hot and dry weather.

Urbanization and Land Use Changes: Urban heat islands, caused by the concentration of buildings, asphalt, and other heat-absorbing materials, can exacerbate local temperatures during heatwaves. Similarly, changes in land use, such as deforestation or agricultural expansion, can alter surface albedo and exacerbate heatwave conditions.

Consequences of Heatwaves:

The impacts of heatwaves extend across multiple sectors and have wide-ranging implications:

1. Human Health: Heatwaves pose significant risks to human health, leading to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly at risk.
2. Agriculture and Food Security: High temperatures and water stress during heatwaves can damage crops, reduce yields, and threaten food security. Heat stress can also impact livestock productivity, further exacerbating agricultural losses.
3. Ecosystems: Heatwaves can have profound impacts on natural ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and disruptions to ecological processes. Marine heatwaves, in particular, can trigger coral bleaching events, harming marine ecosystems and fisheries.
4. Socio-economic Systems: Heatwaves can strain infrastructure, energy systems, and transportation networks, leading to power outages, reduced productivity, and increased healthcare costs. Moreover, heatwaves can exacerbate social inequalities, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities with limited access to resources and healthcare services.

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies:

Addressing the challenges posed by heatwaves requires a multi-faceted approach that encompasses both mitigation and adaptation strategies:

1. Mitigation: Mitigating climate change is essential to reduce the frequency and severity of heatwaves. This involves transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and implementing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across sectors.
2. Urban Planning and Design: Implementing green infrastructure, such as green roofs, parks, and urban forests, can help mitigate the urban heat island effect and enhance resilience to heatwaves. Additionally, sustainable urban planning and design practices can promote natural ventilation, shade, and passive cooling strategies.
3. Early Warning Systems: Developing early warning systems and heatwave preparedness plans can help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat events. These systems should incorporate meteorological forecasts, heat stress indicators, and targeted communication strategies to reach vulnerable populations.
4. Health and Social Interventions: Strengthening healthcare systems, providing access to cooling centers, and implementing heatwave response protocols can help protect public health during extreme heat events. Moreover, social interventions such as income support programs and community outreach initiatives can support vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by heatwaves.

Heatwaves represent a significant challenge in the context of climate change, with far-reaching implications for human societies and natural ecosystems. Addressing this challenge requires urgent and coordinated action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience, and protect vulnerable populations. By implementing a combination of mitigation and adaptation strategies, societies can mitigate the impacts of heatwaves and build more resilient communities in a changing climate.

Author’s Biography

Dr. Debleena Bhattacharya, is the Associate Editor of InnoHEALTH magazine. Her expertise lies in the field of environmental science and biotechnology.

The post Understanding the Nexus Between Heatwaves and Climate Change appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Currently, humanity is facing a serious crisis. The contraction of the world economy, the sharp decline in the value of financial assets, the collapse of imports and exports, the contraction of industrial production, the increase in inflation, the decline in money wages, the increase in unemployment, the decline in social security due to many natural disasters, the displacement of people due to epidemics and the constant competition that destroy not only the economic sector but also the health sector. The ripple effects of war, pandemics and natural catastrophes began at a time when 1 in 16 people worldwide was just pushed into extreme poverty due to healthcare costs, 1 in 4 had already been denied access to essential medicines, and 1 in 2 lacked access to essential health services. And now, deaths due to climate shock are 30 times higher than they were 20 years ago, and hunger is killing a life every 4 seconds. Additionally, because more or less half of the world’s population lacks adequate health literacy, the general public may have the hardest time understanding these issues.

Inflationary hiccups include food and energy crises, currency weakening and stagnating business, as well as 41-year highs in the US and UK; 40-year highs in Japan and Germany; 37-year highs in France and Italy; 30-year highs in India and New Zealand; and 24-year highs in South Korea, Thailand and Turkey. Healthcare will be less concentrated if the food crisis, inflation, and economic stagflation prevail. Spending on medical and health care generally rises more quickly than overall inflation. In addition, higher inflation is linked to increased infant mortality rates, deteriorated maternal and child health, higher hospital worker shortage, costs per patient, depression, anxiety, grief, and stress, the economic burden of chronic ailment, less access to care facilities and separate habitation for the older population, low-income families affecting quality of the food, diminished medical insurance, a growing clinical and a lack of potential medical talent.

The pandemic, the trade war between the United States and China, and the Ukraine crisis all threaten the global supply chain for medical equipment and raw materials.

Conflicts were to blame for more than 10 million child deaths worldwide between 1995 and 2015. 80% of all needs for humanitarian assistance are impacted by conflicts. Up to two-thirds of the world’s extremely poor people will reside in unstable and violently unstable regions by the year 2030. According to the 2018 World Innovation Summit for Health, 60% of the world’s chronically malnourished and starving people, including 75% of children worldwide with growth retardation, live in countries where armed conflicts are still raging. Over 50 years, the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) discovered terrorist attacks in 61 different countries’ health facilities, with more than 50% of cases targeting medical personnel. According to the WHO, 70% of all assaults on medical facilities worldwide in 2018 happened in Syria. The devastation of health facilities has also been reported, including 1,500 in Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict, close to 1,000 in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, at least 700 in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, over 500 in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition, and over 430 in Palestine by the occupiers. Additionally, Europe is at higher risk of COVID-19, drug-resistant TB, polio, Hepatitis B and C, parasitic stomach disorders, and HIV, which are more prevalent in European nations where refugees from Ukraine have sought asylum. 

According to the UNHCR’s refugee data finder, there were more than 100 million people worldwide who were displaced for various reasons, and 32.5 million people who were refugees as of mid-2022. It’s also been reported that cholera is spreading among the displaced Yemeni people and Syrian refugees living in Jordan. Conflict elevated the likelihood of cholera in Nigeria by 3.6 times and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by 2.6 times, according to a recent study funded by Imperial College London. Millions are being pushed into Kenya as a result of conflict, the worst drought in Somalia in 40 years, and flooding in South Sudan. In Kenya’s refugee camps, cases of cholera, measles, and acute malnutrition have been documented. Furthermore, half of Sub-Saharan Africa’s Hepatitis E outbreaks have occurred among refugees and displaced people living in humanitarian crisis settings. Bangladesh now hosts 1.2 million refugees as a result of conflict between the Myanmar Junta and its internal rebels. In Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, which is the largest in the world, nearly one in eight refugees live with disabilities.

The pandemic started or stoked violence and conflict between countries and communities in addition to taking millions of lives. The ordinary people are the victims because the conflict was unavoidable, and there is a troubling connection between the pandemic and current political equilibrium shifts occurring around the world. The pandemic, the trade war between the United States and China, and the Ukraine crisis all threaten the global supply chain for medical equipment and raw materials. Many countries are affected by this, which is exacerbated by energy crises, freight charges, widespread disruptions in global shipping, and currency devaluations. For example, Iran has been unable to obtain essential medical supplies and life-saving medications for a long time due to various international sanctions. The trade between India and China for medicine raw materials has been hampered due to conflicts and pandemics, or at least some trade barriers have been imposed. Additionally, the United States may become overly dependent on Indian pharmaceutical raw materials, eliminating China as the world’s most viable supplier.

More than 6.8 million people had died and 680 million had been impacted by COVID-19 as of March 7, 2023.

A fluctuating power supply endangers the lives and wellbeing of hospital patients, disrupts the continuum of inpatient care, and reduces the capacity of emergency rooms and outpatient clinics. Uneven voltage can deteriorate thermo-sensitive supplies like vaccines, insulin, and blood transfusion products as well as biomedical machinery. According to data from Sub-Saharan Africa, power outages lasting more than 2 hours elevate mortality among inpatients above 40%.

According to the World Bank, natural disasters and climate change could force more than a billion people to leave their dwellings by 2050. As a result of climate change, there are more allergenic air pollutants like mold and pollen because the warm seasons last longer. Heat waves, tropical cyclones, hurricanes, tropical storms, and flash flooding are frequent effects of extreme weather brought on by climate change. And with less precipitation, higher relative humidity, and warmer temperatures, the risk of forest fires and the ensuing air pollution will rise. Extreme heat can worsen chronic conditions like malnutrition, auto-immune conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, cardio-respiratory symptoms, and some cancer types. It can also spread contagious conditions like vector-borne illnesses, COVID-19, and bacterial or fungal infections. Agricultural workers have a 35-fold higher occupational heat-related mortality rate than workers in other industries. Cyclones, floods, and storms have caused 9 out of 10 disasters worldwide and are to blame for 3 out of 4 deaths resulting from disasters. 

More than 6.8 million people had died and 680 million had been impacted by COVID-19 as of March 7, 2023.

More than 6.8 million people had died and 680 million had been impacted by COVID-19 as of March 7, 2023. Lockdown and the fear of being impacted have globally prevented numerous activities, including: vaccinations, regular check-ups for chronic care, hospital admission, inpatient care, access to detoxification centers, substance abuse surveillance, and necessary hospital outdoor, ambulatory, and emergency department visits. Delaying or forgoing medical care may raise the morbidity and mortality rates linked to both acute and chronic illnesses. The COVID-19 pandemic alone, according to the WHO, causes a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. Civil war and pandemic, both of which influence substance abuse and communicable disease spread among people who inject drugs (PWID).

Warfare, conflicts, climate crisis, and pandemics are all directly and in a roundabout way contributing to the disaster’s escalation. Particularly, each of those problems is linked to the others. The coexisting of all of these problems may threaten mankind by ending in the loss of many basic health services features such as health framework access, immunizations poison management, health care insurance coverage or co-payment policies, health surveillance and monitoring, monitoring of adverse medication reactions, telemedicine support, patient education or awareness applications newer drug innovations, and allied technological innovations advances and advancements. Security and safety of healthcare facilities, employees, and supply lines remain top priorities, alongside access to healthcare services, technology, and innovation. In a stable socio-political environment and a sound economy, any of these facilities in countries or communities would take longer to establish and would necessitate support from the government and other associated authorities, IT invention and protocol developments and public aligning to the health system. With the variety of crises that the world is currently experiencing, the system is extremely delicate and vulnerable.

Composed by: “Abdul Kader Mohiuddin is an A-grade pharmacist with the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council. He has completed his B. PHARM and M. PHARM from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. “

The post Conflicts, COVID-19, and climate change: challenges to public health in the wake of humanitarian crises appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Traditionally, these sectors have relied on coal, oil, and natural gas and have been some of the largest CO₂ emitters. The cost of green Hydrogen generation in India can be brought down by using low-cost renewable energy generating plants. As per a NITI Aayog Report, global demand for Hydrogen could grow by almost 400 percent by 2050, led by industry and transportation. The Ministry of Power (MoP) unveiled the first part of India’s Green Hydrogen Policy on 17 February 2022. It is one of the critical outcomes of the National Hydrogen Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021. 

Hydrogen gas on burning (combustion) with oxygen (air) generates a considerable amount of energy, generally 286,000 joules per mole of Hydrogen gas burned. It has a high energy density/mass of 120-142 MJ/kg; for gasoline, it is 44.5 MJ/kg. The process does not produce any toxic combustion by-products. Currently, Hydrogen used for the process is largely produced from conventional fuels. 

White Hydrogen is a naturally occurring version that can occasionally be found underground. In the US, nearly 80% of the Hydrogen is produced through Steam-Methane Reforming (SMR), known as grey Hydrogen. The fuel used is natural gas or methane. This process generates just a smaller amount of emissions than black or brown Hydrogen, which uses black (bituminous) or brown (lignite) coal in the Hydrogen-making process. It is the most damaging from the environmental point of view as it generates both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. 

The Hydrogen is labelled blue whenever the carbon generated from steam reforming is captured and stored underground with the help of industrial Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS). Blue Hydrogen is often referred to as carbon neutral as the emissions are not dispersed in the atmosphere. According to a study conducted by the International Energy Agency, the blue Hydrogen production is responsible for around 830 million tons of CO₂ emission annually. 

Hydrogen produced with the water electrolysis process (splitting water into Hydrogen and Oxygen) is known as green Hydrogen or “clean Hydrogen” as it is produced by using clean energy from surplus renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power and biomass. Alkaline and polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysers are two commercially available green Hydrogen production technologies. Advanced electrolyser technologies like solid oxide and anion exchange membranes are also nearing commercial deployment. 

Reducing emissions from existing Hydrogen production is a challenge but also presents an opportunity to increase the scale of clean Hydrogen worldwide. It is possible by capturing, storing, or utilising the CO₂ produced from manufacturing Hydrogen using fossil fuels. There are currently several industrial facilities around the world, including India, that use this process. Efforts should be taken to increase the number of such facilities for enhanced impact. Expanding the use of clean Hydrogen in other sectors – such as transportation, steel, and energy management for commercial buildings would also create more traction.

India has a distinct advantage in low-cost renewable energy generation, which is said to be the factor making it most competitive in green Hydrogen. As per the analysis performed by RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute), adopting green Hydrogen will also result in 3.6 Giga tonnes of cumulative CO₂ emissions reductions between 2020 and 2050. 

Other than direct combustion, Hydrogen can be consumed by electricity generation through fuel cells and industrial processes to be used as chemical feedstock like fertilizer, plastics, fuel refining, metallurgy, steel, food, and glass industries. India’s first indigenous Hydrogen fuel cell bus was unveiled on 24 August 2022 in Pune, Maharashtra, by Union minister of state for science and technology Dr Jitendra Singh. It is a joint development effort of KPIT Technologies and the National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL). 

In the cell, the Hydrogen is fed to the anode and air to the cathode. A catalyst at the anode separates Hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons, and the electrons going through an external circuit create the flow of electricity, producing only heat and water as tailpipe emissions. A single diesel bus plying on long-distance routes typically emits 100 tons of CO₂ annually, and there are over a million such buses in India. Green Hydrogen-run buses will be the right solution to curb such pollution. In addition, it can also help reduce the nation’s reliance on oil imports and strengthen the domestic job market. 

Challenges of a Hydrogen economy are high costs, technicalities involving transporting and storing Hydrogen, supply chain complexity, regulations, and policy. The cost of green Hydrogen largely depends on the cost of electrolysers and electricity, operating price, transmission and distribution costs, local duties and taxes, etc. It is relatively high in India and lies between $7-4.10/kg but has the potential to reach $1.60/kg by 2030 and $0.70/kg by 2050. Such aspirational price targets will be conducive to green Hydrogen market development. 

India is undertaking a resolute march to scale up green Hydrogen production and utilisation. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has already developed an alkali water electrolysis technology for commercialization that can produce 10 Nm³/hr of Hydrogen. Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI) is currently designing electrodes and electrolytes for Hydrogen generation using seawater. The University of Lucknow is exploring the use of transition metal mixed oxides for alkaline water electrolysis and preparing electrodes. 

A consortium of institutes, including IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Jodhpur, CSIR-CECRI, BARC, and Dayalbagh Educational Institute, is developing a scalable design for a Solar-Hydrogen generation system using multiple technologies. Oil and Natural Gas Commission Energy Centre and IIT Delhi are utilizing the Sulphur-iodine thermochemical Hydrogen cycle to generate low-cost clean Hydrogen fuel for industrial consumption. A research group from the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh, headed by Dr Pooja Devi, Principal Scientist, is investigating wastewater as a feedstock for Hydrogen production instead of potable water. It can solve both the problem of wastewater management and clean Hydrogen generation. (India Science Wire)

ISW/SM/GREEN HYDROGEN/ENERGY/31/08/2022 

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