Publication date: 07-Feb-2004
Source: ANI

The Union Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Resources, Karia Munda, who flagged off the event, said the hydrogen-based technology will help to bring down environmental pollution.

"Not only will it (hydrogen fuel) run two-wheelers or three-wheelers, but it will also be used as cooking gas and to light a bulb. The main thing is that it is never going to end. It is renewable," Munda said.

Scientists around the world are still carrying out research on alternative and renewable resources of energy, as exhaustible fossil fuels pose associated environmental hazards, including global warming.

But there is little commercial application of battery powered and solar-powered vehicles and wind energy is limited to just a few suitable windy locations while nuclear energy poses a radiation hazard.

Munda said the fuel would be commercially promoted with the help of industrial houses.

"We are going to hold a meeting on February 23, and we have called all industrialists. Industrial houses like TATA and Reliance can help us commercially. We will talk to them and then only will a road map be made," Munda said.

Though abundantly available, hydrogen fuel is seldom used even in rockets, as it is the most inflammable material.

The United States has announced plans to spend 1.7 billion dollars on research for achieving tangible results in the field of hydrogen fuelled vehicles within the next two decades.

But in the absence of cheaper and assured alternative energy resources, both the U.S and Russia, have not yet ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which is aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions that have been blamed for global warming.

India is among the 96 countries that have ratified the protocol.