Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA)

10 It is projected that the production of blue hydrogen will reach 80 million metric tons by 2050, if governments in different countries continue to enact stricter regulations to bolster the demand for fuel sources free of emissions, as detailed in Niti Ayog Report. The most used technology of production of hydrogen in the mining industry are electrolyzers – this is the first step towards clean hydrogen production, hydrogen energy storage, renewable technology improvements, growing carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment, and waste to hydrogen tech. In 2023, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched a call for proposals to find innovative approaches for sustainable hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. The DST had announced that the objective was to encourage domestic new technology development at higher technology readiness levels (TRLs) to build the nation’s entire hydrogen value chain. Value Chain for Hydrogen used in mining Hydrogen energy value chains are split mainly into two segments i.e. energy source, production and transportation, storage, & distribution, with end use. Energy source As defined above, Hydrogen is produced from natural gas, coal, and water. H2 can be produced from energy sources such as nuclear and renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biomass. Transportation, storage, & distribution Hydrogen is transported through pipelines, over the road in compressed gas cylinders or cryogenic liquid tanker trucks, or via rail or barge, among other ways. Hydrogen used for portable or stationary energy applications can be transported via trucks to a storage site in cylinders or cartridges. Hydrogen’s potential in the mining industry The integration of green hydrogen into the mining industry is a major step forward for sustainability and a more environmentally friendly mining industry. Green hydrogen offers a route to a more sustainable future for mining operations. Reducing emissions would greatly improve air quality and enabling the integration of renewable energy sources. The major consideration of hydrogen usage in the mining industry are hydrogen cost – a barrier, focusing on costs across the transportation sector, increased flexibility, and hydrogen import- export partnerships on the rise. The application of Hydrogen in mining is in powering mining equipment’s (HEMM). The mining industry heavily relies on diesel-powered machinery, which emits large amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. To reduce this, several companies at mines across the world are working to replace their diesel fleets with vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Generally mining operations are situated in remote locations where access to traditional energy infrastructure, such as solar or wind farms, is limited. Also powering mining vehicles (HEMMs) using electrical