The recent Hydrogen Technology Expo 2023 was an exclusive event dedicated to the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.
By: Rohit Ojha, Lead Scientist, Alleima
Representatives from a diverse range of verticals, including refineries, chemical, engineering, automotive, and power, came together to exchange ideas and insights on solutions and innovations for low-carbon hydrogen production, efficient storage and distribution, as well as various stationary and mobile applications.
Recognizing the potential of hydrogen to power sustainable growth while reducing carbon emissions, we saw this event as an opportunity to showcase our strong research and development (R&D) and product offerings for hydrogen applications.
Addressing India's environmental challenges
India faces a range of environmental challenges, but perhaps the most pressing issue is the impact of carbon emissions on the global climate. In recent years, the country’s hydrogen industry has been gaining momentum, with a growing focus on green hydrogen production using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
India has set ambitious goals to become energy independent by 2047 and achieve net zero by 2070, and increasing the use of renewable energy is central to this plan. In January 2022, the National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched to support this transition, with the aim of making India a leading producer and supplier of green hydrogen, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, and creating employment and economic development opportunities.
Identifying potential applications and ensuring the safe and cost-effective implementation of innovative technologies is key to the rapid adoption of hydrogen.
Paving the way for safe and sustainable hydrogen implementation
With over 160 years of experience in materials technology, we're passionate about driving innovation and providing tailored solutions for hydrogen applications. Our R&D solutions, deep application knowledge, manufacturing, and testing capabilities enable us to tackle the unique challenges of our customers’ transition to hydrogen.
At the event, we presented on "Material Solutions for the Transitions to Hydrogen" to raise awareness of hydrogen's unique challenges to materials. In various hydrogen application conditions, the careful selection of materials is vital as hydrogen embrittlement can cause catastrophic failures. Merely selecting an alloy grade based on composition standards is insufficient to ensure desired properties.
We consider multiple factors, such as dimensional tolerance, surface finish, and cleanliness, as they play critical roles in achieving desired performance. Our offerings such as the Alleima® 3R60 grade also exexhibit better hydrogen embrittlement resistance within the 316/316L standard as it has higher nickel content (~13%).
Our proven track record in hydrogen applications includes tubes and fuel injection lines for hydrogen fueling stations and vehicles. Additionally, we offer a patented versatile alloy, Sanicro® 35, which bridges the gap between stainless steel and nickel alloys, making it an excellent choice for demanding environments.
Our progress towards sustainability goals in India
As sustainability goals become more important, there will be a constant need for materials that can handle the needs to achieve these goals. As a company driven by innovation, we are poised to support the industry: Locally, our R&D facility in Pune continuously explores innovative solutions for customers, and we have also expanded capacities and capabilities at our world-class seamless tube manufacturing facility in Mehsana, Gujarat.
Alleima is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and promoting circularity in our daily operations. Sustainability is deeply embedded in our operations. Our products and solutions enable greater energy efficiency, renewable energy production, and greener transportation, putting us at the forefront of advancing technologies to tackle the challenges of the future.