By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan on Friday said that hydrogen will play a transformative role in India’s space missions.
Speaking at the National Workshop on Hydrogen Fuel Technologies and Future Trends, Mr. Narayanan said the world today faces twin challenges: the growing demand for energy and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“In this context, hydrogen, one of the greenest and cleanest fuels available to us, is a beacon of hope. It remains key in many of our breakthroughs at ISRO. In January, India successfully launched the GSLV Mk III rocket, marking its 100th successful mission. It was powered by a cryogenic stage using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, a technology once denied to India, but now mastered by the country. Last year, we demonstrated a 100-watt oxygen-based fuel cell in space, with a 20-kilowatt version under testing,” Mr. Narayanan said.
He added that beyond rockets, hydrogen has applications in aircraft, trains, automobiles, and fuel cells.
“In 2010–11, ISRO and Tata Motors collaborated to build a hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus, which was safely tested despite concerns, proving our confidence in the technology. In June 2025, five hydrogen-powered buses began commercial operations. Companies like BHEL and NTPC are now working on hydrogen systems and gas turbine engines,” he added.
Mr. Narayanan also spoke about the safety and handling of hydrogen.
Safety issues
“Hydrogen flames are colourless and dangerous. We must never ignore the safety risks; with vast hydrogen facilities, the scale of potential danger is real. This highlights the urgent need for better hydrogen sensors, moving from current three to four-second response times to millisecond-level detection,” Mr. Narayanan said.
NITI Aayog member Vijay Kumar Saraswat said that India must accelerate its journey towards a hydrogen economy if we are to achieve our net-zero ambitions.
“As nations like China move ahead with hydrogen-methanol technologies, India must intensify indigenous R&D, build testing infrastructure such as 700-bar storage systems, and innovate new storage materials. Hydrogen IC engines and carriers like methanol are particularly vital for heavy-duty transport and marine sectors, where batteries fall short. This is the time for India to go beyond imitation, invest in self-reliant hydrogen solutions, and position hydrogen as the bridge between fossil fuels and renewables in our energy transition,” Mr. Saraswat said.
