PM Oli inaugurates green hydrogen production and re-fuelling centre

KAVREPALANCHOWK, AUGUST 30: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated a green hydrogen production and refueling centre at Kathmandu University (KU) in Dhulikhel today. During the 29th Convocation Ceremony of KU, he also unveiled a green hydrogen-fueled car with the registration number Ba 1 Jha 1111, which he used to travel to the convocation venue.

PM Oli commended the construction of the green hydrogen production and refueling station, operated by KU, as an exemplary initiative. He emphasized the need for similar innovative projects to be implemented in other areas, particularly prioritizing their use in vehicles. He noted that he had previously initiated discussions and studies on the production of green hydrogen and wind power during his earlier tenure as Prime Minister. He added, "Good work has started now, and it should be expanded to other places."

Associate Professor Biraj Singh Thapa, Chief of KU's Nepal Hydrogen Initiatives, explained that green hydrogen is produced by processing electricity with water. KU, which has been conducting studies and research on green hydrogen fuel for the past two years, successfully produced green hydrogen for the first time on April 2, 2023. Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) provided financial assistance for the production of green hydrogen fuel and the operation of a hydrogen-fueled car.

A car manufactured by Hyundai was imported from South Korea last November with the support of NOC. The hydrogen refuelling centre was installed on the university campus with the assistance of technicians from a Korean green hydrogen production company. NOC provided Rs 50 million to KU for this project, with Rs 33,000 USD invested in remodelling the car and Rs 13 million used to build the refuelling centre.

Associate Professor Thapa explained that hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water, which is then converted into dry hydrogen, purified, and stored in a low-pressure tank. The hydrogen is then transferred from the low-pressure tank to the car's fuel tank through a high-pressure tank. KU's hydrogen refill center currently produces an average of two kilograms of hydrogen daily for study and research purposes. Producing one kilogram of hydrogen requires ten liters of water and 40-45 units of electricity. The car at the university can hold six kilograms of hydrogen, allowing it to travel up to 650 kilometers on a full tank.

KU also aims to develop a pilot project for a hydrogen refueling center with the capacity to service 30 to 35 hydrogen-fueled cars. This initiative marks the first effort in Nepal to produce hydrogen for transportation use.