A hydrogen sensor startup from Maharashtra is to receive funding of Rs3.29 crore for the indigenous development of hydrogen sensing and analysis technology.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, presided over the signing of an MoU between Technology Development Board under DST and M/s Multi Nano Sense Technologies Private, Maharashtra to support the local manufacturing of Hydrogen sensors.
The company is developing a modern hydrogen analysis sensor for new age applications.
The development is also related to the universal miniaturised core sensor designs for leak detection and/or analysis of hydrogen.
The patented hydrogen gas sensor and analyser is based on a core sensor, which has been conceptualised, developed, manufactured and serviced entirely in India.
The sensor has several unique and path breaking features such as Minimum detection: Parts Per Million (PPM) range; Maximum detection: 100% Pure Hydrogen; Instant response within 3 seconds; low power consumption for core sensor operation. Portable detectors can operate continuously upto 36 hours on single charge; non-corrosive; long life of 5 years etc.
The funding follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiling a National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) vision to coincide with India’s 75th Independence Day.
The NHM aims to aid the government in meeting its climate targets and making India a green hydrogen hub. It is targeting production of 5mn tonnes of Green hydrogen by 2030 and related development of renewable energy capacity.
The Minister said that at present, it is heavily dependent on importing sensors from China, USA, UK, Japan and Germany.
The major quality test of these sensors is that they do not face any cross interference from other combustible or reducing gases; can function in air as well as inert/ vacuum background and perform analysis from 1ppm to 100% pure Hydrogen.
With this technology, India can penetrate the global market to complement domestic demand through their Made-in-India products.
Singh said the demand for energy is growing and with the limitation of existing resources, there is a need for an alternative fuel.
“Hydrogen envisages being the future fuel to replace fossil fuel and therefore production of Hydrogen fuel by using power from renewable energy, termed as green hydrogen is one of the major requirements towards environmentally sustainable energy security of the nation,” he said.
The Minister added that as per NITI Aayog’s report, ‘Harnessing Green Hydrogen: Opportunities for Deep Decarbonisation in India’, Hydrogen will provide a pathway to accelerate the emergence of a green hydrogen economy, which is critical for India to achieve its net-zero ambitions by 2070.
Rajesh Kumar Pathak, IP&TAFS, Secretary, TDB said the target of net-zero emissions by 2070, made at the COP26 Summit, can be achieved by promoting alternative energy resources.
“Hydrogen is one such resource which requires indigenous ecosystem development including safety & security during its usage,” he said.
“As an initial step in this direction, TDB is supporting startup M/s Multi Nano Sense for development and production of highly advanced leakage detection sensors to detect hydrogen leakage, and to enhance safety and security of the systems.”
According to its LinkedIn page, Multi Nano Sense is a ‘deep technology company focusing on solving global gas sensing challenges for ushering in a smarter, safer and healthier world’.
Its core team consists of globally recognised experts in the field of nanotechnology, materials science, chemistry, physics, metallurgy, microelectronics, MEMS, CMOS and simulation techniques, and it is building gas and dust sensors with vastly enhanced capabilities, to enable the development of innovative solutions, to address large and critical challenges.
H2 View’s Hydrogen in India – Snap Summit
With the launch of its national hydrogen strategy in recent weeks and growing interest in India’s bold ambitions to de-leverage from traditional fossil fuel-based energy, H2 View stages a Snap Summit to address the country’s path forward in hydrogen.
India plans to manufacture five million tonnes of green hydrogen per annum by 2030 and not just meet its own climate objectives but become a production and export hub for the clean fuel.
Some sources question a lack of detail over the wider ecosystem while others still point to the country’s reliance on coal power. Yet, the world’s third-largest energy consuming country is already embracing renewable energy, its solar power sector is moving forward, and data suggests coal’s hold over India’s power sector is steadily loosening. The grid is already evolving.
The question is, how can a renewable energy powerhouse fast-track to true sustainability with green hydrogen? Join H2 View and a programme of global hydrogen leaders to unlock answers and insights for the short, medium, and long-term future in India. Want to learn more? Click here.