Ray , a drop of golden Sun

This is how Julie Andrew sang in film, “ Sound of Music “ :

Doe, a deer, a female deer 
Ray, a drop of golden sun 
Me, a name I call myself 
Far, a long way to run……..

In Hindu legends, Sun was also referred to as “ Vasu “

Dr Subramanyan Vasudevan , Senior Principle Scientist at CECRI is out to harness the power of Sun to produce large quantities of Hydrogen from Water – and do it safely – and on location !

Then push this Hydrogen into fuel cells that generate electricity and ( back to some ) water

Electricity to power Electric vehicles

He and his team has come up with a contrivance that marries solar panels to electrolysis equipment so as to produce hydrogen using a Proton Exchange Membrane in water electrolysis

For full report , read :

With a little help from the Sun  

Dr Vasudevan may have “ a long way to run “ till we see solar panels mounted on roof-tops of cars, producing hydrogen – and electricity - from “ Water Electrolysis Contrivance “ located under the hood , and driving small electric motors

A contrivance which would require occasional filling up with water ( from “ Water Filling Stations “ –  Piyawas / Parabs of old times )

A holy grail ?

Without doubt , considering that skies are filled with Sunlight and abundant water on earth contains 11.19 % hydrogen !

Dr Vasudevan adds :

“Water electrolysis by PEM concept is the most suited process for onsite production of hydrogen, because of its simplicity of operation and maintenance, compactness, absence of corrosive liquids and purity of hydrogen 

The source of electricity is solar panels. You need 5 kWhr of electricity to produce one cubic metre of hydrogen in an hour, and half a cubic metre of oxygen, at atmospheric pressure. Both gases are of 99.99 per cent purity and the oxygen can be used in hospitals

The device costs around ₹1 lakh, but that is because the anode and cathode are made of iridium and platinum respectively. 

Now CECRI is trying out different materials for the electrodes to make it less expensive. The electricity, of course, is free once the cost of the solar panels is paid for. “

CONTEXT :

·         Government is budgeting Rs 5,500 Cr by way of subsidies for Electric Vehicles under FAME 2 ( Rs 25K for 2 wheelers / Rs 40K for 3 wheelers / Rs 50K for 4 wheelers )

·         Current designs of EVs will need a huge outlay on creating a Battery Charging Infra

·         Lithium for batteries has to be imported ( a dangerous dependence )

·         FAME 2 proposes CESS on vehicles driven by petrol/diesel engines ( Rs 500-25000 )

·         Disposal of Lithium batteries is a hazardous process ( might cause more pollution ? )

·         Battery Charging Stations will use Electricity produced in coal-based power plants , hence we will be only transferring the pollution from exhaust pipes to chimneys !

·         As far back as May 2017 , ISRO demonstrated a OMNI station wagon , fitted with solar panels on its roof-top and generating enough electricity to drive the motors . Nothing more is heard since then about this break-through !

As it seems to have happened in case of ISRO , will vested interests ensure that Dr Vasudevan’s innovation too , is given a secret burial ?

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Dear Shri Nitin Gadkariji,

If we fail to encourage our brilliant Scientists ( through public recognition and handsome grants for commercializing their innovations ) , then we have a bleak future !

I urge you to send a congratulatory email to Dr Subramanyan , at :

Vasudevan65@gmail.com   /  svasudevan@cecri.res.in

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19  Feb  2019

Rsvp :  hcp@RecruitGuru.com