Hydrogen entry kicks-off in October

•  Mulls PPP model for new initiative

Sri Lanka’s entry into the hydrogen fuel era is to be kicked-off in October. And adoption of PPP model is being mulled. “The forthcoming Hydrogen and Renewable Energy conference in Colombo to be held in October is also the first step in formulating Sri Lanka’s hydrogen road-map. Our second objective being the use of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for wider hydrogen implementation in the country,” announced UNIDO National Director for Sri Lanka Nawaz Rajabdeen on 26 July.  

Sri Lanka Hydrogen Project Consultant and Adviser Vittorio Coco (left) meets UNIDO National Director for Sri Lanka Nawaz Rajabdeen) at the UNIDO Focal Point office in Colombo

Rajabdeen announced this in the aftermath of his discussion with Consultant and Adviser Vittorio Coco of Sri Lanka’s first Hydrogen powered pilot project which is set to test hydrogen powered three wheelers (tuk-tuks) in Galle Fort.

Previously, on 7 May, Rajabdeen announced that Sri Lanka would be stepping into hydrogen fuel era shortly. And the first foray would be through the SME sector. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said that he was pleased to see UNIDO’s forward looking initiatives start from small and SME sectors. The minister said, “If viable, the transport cost savings from hydrogen fuel can benefit our growing industry sector considerably.”

“The October conference on Hydrogen and Renewable Energy in Colombo will feature Prof. L.M. Das of Indian Institute of Technology,” Rajabdeen revealed.

Prof. Das proved that Hydrogen can be used as an alternate energy resource for vehicles. He is also behind the famous hydrogen tuk-tuk project India called DELHy3W (hydrogen-operated three wheelers) with Mahindra and Mahindra.

“At mass production levels, the hydrogen powered Indian tuk-tuks are estimated to cost only 12% in comparison to standard three wheelers used there. Mahindra’s HyAlfa’s report 80 Km mileage for just one Kilogram of hydrogen,” Rajabdeen added.  

Detailing the first ever hydrogen conference in Sri Lanka in next October, Coco said, “The conference is the first phase of the hydrogen energy project. It will focus on many related areas on hydrogen and other renewable energy with its secondary objective being the use of PPP model for wider hydrogen implementation. Also, EU Projects in Sri Lanka on renewable energy, presentation on hydrogen demo projects in Istanbul and the planned Galle Fort tuk-tuk project, how to use hydrogen for sustainable tourism, and incentives available for investors too will be discussed.”

The tuk-tuk demonstration project in the Galle Fort of Sri Lanka is modelled on ‘HyAlfa’, the world’s first hydrogen powered three wheeler unveiled in India in January 2012 by Mahindra and Mahindra. At mass production levels, the hydrogen powered Indian tuk-tuks are estimated to cost only 12% in comparison to standard three wheelers used there. Mahindra’s HyAlfa’s report 80 Km mileage for just one Kilogram of hydrogen.

The demo project plans to use 15 hydrogen powered zero emission three wheelers in Galle Fort and monitor them carefully for their pollutant free runs.

It is slated as a private public partnership venture in which the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, UNIDO, three wheeler drivers’ associations, environment and pro-green organisations, local three wheeler assemblers (such as David Pieris Motor Company which assembles Bajaj three wheelers in Hambanthota), importers, and line Ministries of Energy and Environment.

“Through the demo project, we expect to gain an understanding as to how to use hydrogen across Sri Lanka’s small scale and SME sector which will then be expanded to the wider transports sector including motor transport and possibly fishing boats,” Coco added.