Mansoor Sadiq

Pakistan has significant potential for producing green hydrogen. This could not only help overcome its perennial energy crisis but also minimize its dependence on fossil fuels, said Syed Akhtar Ali, an energy expert and former member of the Energy and Planning Commission. With effective and proactive policies and investments, there are bright prospects for developing a green hydrogen ecosystem in Pakistan. This could generate new job opportunities and help the country transition to a low-carbon economy, leading to economic growth, he said.

For decades, Pakistan has struggled to overcome its power shortfall and meet the ever-rising demand for energy. The energy shortfall intensifies during the peak summer season, leading to outages. Syed Akhtar Ali said the process for producing green hydrogen involves the use of an electrolyser to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, with a renewable energy source powering the entire process.

The hydrogen produced in this process is a clean fuel that emits only water vapours on burning, making it a valuable resource in transition to a low-carbon economy. With the cooperation of Asian Development Bank, the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) has started working on a pilot project for producing green hydrogen. Under the project, 13 sites have been identified in the country.

The green hydrogen produced under the project will be utilised for domestic and commercial purposes, including the transport sector. The use of green hydrogen in the transport sector will also help cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. As per NEECA, the production capacity of hydrogen gas is more than the nuclear energy.

Syed Akhtar Ali added that green hydrogen could also be used as a feedstock for industrial processes such as the production of ammonia, which is used in the manufacturing of fertilizers.Green hydrogen can be stored during the periods of low demand and can be used for generating electricity during the high demand periods, said Syed Akhtar Ali. The production of green hydrogen can also help Pakistan meet its climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk