FIRST INDIGENOUS FUEL CELL SYSTEM

Sept. 27, 2019

The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, unveiled the first Indigenous High Temperature Fuel Cell System on the occasion of CSIR Foundation Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

About:

The system has been developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in partnership with Indian industries.
It has been developed under India’s flagship program named “New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI).”
Working:
- The 5.0 kW fuel cell system generates power in a green manner using methanol / bio-methane, with heat and water as bi-products for further use; amounting to greater than 70% efficiency, which otherwise may not be possible by other energy sources.
- The Fuel Cells developed are based on High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HTPEM) Technology.
Significance:
- This development would replace Diesel Generating (DG) sets and help reduce India’s dependence on crude oil.
- In the field of clean energy, Fuel Cell distributed power generation systems are emerging as promising alternative to grid power. It carries immense national importance in terms of non-grid energy security.