Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, flagged off NTPC’s green hydrogen bus fleet in Leh, marking a significant step in India’s decarbonization and renewable energy efforts. Accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Power, Leh Administration, and NTPC, the minister also traveled 12 km in one of the hydrogen buses, from the hydrogen filling station to Leh airport, showcasing the project’s operational readiness.
The Green Hydrogen Mobility Project in Leh is a groundbreaking initiative featuring a 1.7 MW solar plant, a green hydrogen filling station with an 80 kg/day capacity, and five hydrogen-powered intra-city buses. Operating at the world’s highest altitude (3,650 meters above sea level), the project is engineered to function efficiently in extreme conditions, including low-density air and sub-zero temperatures. Each bus, with a 25 kg hydrogen capacity, can travel up to 300 km on a single fill at 350-bar pressure.
This initiative is expected to mitigate approximately 350 metric tons of carbon emissions annually and contribute 230 metric tons of pure oxygen to the atmosphere—equivalent to planting about 13,000 trees. Leveraging Ladakh’s high solar irradiance and low temperatures, the project demonstrates the region’s ideal conditions for solar power and green hydrogen production, offering a sustainable solution to fossil fuel dependency and enabling energy self-sufficiency.
Shri Manohar Lal commended NTPC for its innovative efforts in integrating hydrogen technology across various domains, including mobility, blending with PNG, and green methanol. The minister emphasized the significance of such projects in achieving India’s energy security and carbon-neutrality goals.
In addition to Leh, NTPC is expanding its green hydrogen initiatives nationwide, including plans for a hydrogen hub in Andhra Pradesh. These efforts are part of NTPC’s larger strategy to scale up renewable energy capacity and establish India as a global leader in sustainable energy solutions.