• Application: Once the technology is ready, it could be put to use by the transport sector, industry and even smaller applications like cooking stoves and decentralized electricity. Tata is of the opinion that technology for vehicles has to be (internal combustion) IC-engine-based, requiring minimum modification to the existing system.

• Cost: This is the large, looming hurdle. As per current research, if the infrastructure to re-fuel is available and storage sorted out, it would still cost about Rs 200 for the mileage from the Rs 45-per litre of petrol. How much should the government subsidise?

“The cost of developing hydrogen fuel is high but it can be negated if the government can subsidise. However, we need to decide if subsidies should be given on existing applications to increase scale or on research,” said Ahluwalia. He said hydrogen technology was not economic at present and unless subsidised, the fuel would not to be commercially viable. “If we recognise that it is a potential resource, there is no harm in using subsidies to jump start it but....it is unlikely to become a plausible solution in energy security if it continued to be subsidised perpetually,” Ahluwalia added.

For now, there is plenty lying in labs for the industry to move on. “We now need a business model required for successful commercialisation of hydrogen fuel technology,” said S K Chopra, principal advisor and special secretary to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Some of the institutions involved in the research are BHEL, SPIC Science Foundation, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, IIT Delhi and Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi. Among projects already up and running are a hydrogen-fuelling station in collaboration with IOC and a demonstration project on hydrogen CNG buses.