Hydrogen buses in Odisha: NTPC to set up production plant at CRUT depot in Bhubaneswar

In a major step toward green mobility, NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) will establish a hydrogen production plant at the CRUT depot in Gadakana of Bhubaneswar marking Odisha’s entry into hydrogen-powered public transport.

The facility, part of a broader project under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aims to fuel eco-friendly buses and cut carbon emissions.

Supporting Infrastructure

According to media reports, to facilitate the hydrogen production project, the Energy Department has requested the allocation of two acres of land to NTPC. Further, GRIDCO will supply 2 MW of electricity from a nearby substation to support hydrogen production.

Meanwhile, the hydrogen production plant at the CRUT depot will also utilize existing Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) to generate hydrogen gas.

Agreement and Roles

A tripartite agreement was signed in this regard by NTPC CGM M R Panda, CRUT Managing Director Tirumala Nayak, and Grid Corporation of Odisha Limited (GRIDCO) Managing Director Trilochan Panda. 

The agreement outlines the key roles:

1. NTPC: Produce hydrogen and deploy three buses.

2. GRIDCO: Ensure renewable energy supply.

3. CRUT: Maintain buses and infrastructure.

The signing took place in the presence of Odisha Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo and Housing & Urban Development Minister KC Mohapatra.

ALSO READ: NTPC EET Recruitment 2025: Apply for 475 vacancies by Feb 13, check eligibility details

Project Details

NTPC will deploy three hydrogen-powered buses, each with a seating capacity of 42 passengers. Moreover, these buses are designed to replace diesel models, offering a range of up to 600 km on 58 kg of hydrogen and a mileage of 12 km per kg. As per preliminary reports, the buses will run on the Bhubaneswar-Puri-Konark route.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

The project aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission, under which the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued guidelines for pilot projects using green hydrogen in transportation.

ALSO READ: Energy dept directs Odisha police to take action against protesting TPCODL engineers

As such, the hydrogen-powered bus project is expected to pave the way for sustainable public transport solutions in Odisha, bringing significant environmental benefits and contributing to the state's climate change mitigation efforts.