Suggested Citation:
Morrison, Geoffrey M., Ravindra Kumar, Sachin Chugh, S. K. Puri, D. K. Tuli, R. K. Malhotra (2011) Hydrogen Transportation in Delhi? Investigating the Hydrogen Compressed Natural Gas (H-CNG) Option. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-11-09

Given the success of Delhi’s CNG vehicle program, energy stakeholders are now investigating a transition to hydrogen-compressed natural gas (H-CNG) blends. Past research has shown H-CNG can reduce tailpipe emissions of both criteria and greenhouse gas pollutants relative to diesel and CNG. Here, we examine hydrogen production via gasification of three abundant, non-fodder residues: rice straw, cotton stalk, and mustard stalk. The total availability of these three residues in districts within 150 km of Delhi is 4,717 kilotons (KTs) per year, enough to produce 270.7 KT per year of hydrogen using gasification. This amount far exceeds what is needed to support the current CNG vehicle population with 18%-82% H-CNG blends. The cost of each step of the biohydrogen supply chain is reported in terms of rupees per kg of hydrogen and the total cost of using biohydrogen in Delhi is estimated to be 149.6 rupees ($3.39) per kg.  

Keywords: H-CNG, gasification, biomass, Delhi, India, pollution