Kavrepalanchok, Aug 30: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the green hydrogen production and refueling centre set up at Kathmandu University (KU) in Dhulikhel today. He also unveiled a green hydrogen-fuelled car with the registration number plate Ba 1 Jha 1111 on the occasion of the 29th Convocation Ceremony of KU. The Prime Minister rode in the same car to the Convocation venue.
On the occasion, PM Oli described the construction of the green hydrogen production and refueling station operated by KU as an exemplary work. "Not only in KU, such types of innovative works should be carried out in other places as well," said PM Oli, who is also the Chancellor of KU. He recalled initiating discussions and studies for the production of green hydrogen and wind power during his previous tenure as Prime Minister. "A good work has been started now, and it should be expanded to other places. Particularly, the first priority should be given to vehicles," he added.
Chief of KU's Nepal Hydrogen Initiatives, Associate Professor Biraj Singh Thapa, explained that green hydrogen has been produced by processing electricity with water. KU, which had been conducting studies and research on the production and use of green hydrogen fuel for the last two years, produced green hydrogen for the first time on April 2, 2023.
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) provided financial assistance to KU for the production of green hydrogen fuel and for operating the hydrogen-fuelled car. A car manufactured by Hyundai Company was brought from South Korea last November with the support of NOC. The hydrogen refueling centre has been installed at the university campus with the assistance of a technician from a Korean green hydrogen production company. The NOC provided Rs 50 million to KU for this project.
From this amount, the university remodeled the car at an investment of 33 thousand USD and built the refueling centre at a cost of Rs 13 million. Associate Professor Thapa stated that hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water, which is then converted into dry hydrogen, purified, and stored in a low-pressure tank. The hydrogen in the low-pressure tank is then filled in the car's fuel tank through the high-pressure tank.
KU stated that, on average, two kilograms of hydrogen is produced daily at the hydrogen refill centre for study and research purposes. Ten litres of water and 40-45 units of electricity are required to produce one kilogram of hydrogen. The car brought to the university can hold six kilograms of hydrogen, allowing it to travel 650 kilometers when the hydrogen fuel tank is filled to capacity.
KU also has the goal of preparing a pilot project for setting up a hydrogen refueling centre with the capacity to refuel 30 to 35 hydrogen-fuelled cars. It is said that this is the first initiative in the country for producing hydrogen to operate transport.
