In a landmark development for India’s clean energy ambitions, five hydrogen fuel cell-based buses were officially flagged off on Thursday for commercial operations in Leh district of Ladakh, home to the world’s highest motorable roads. This is India’s first-ever commercial deployment of hydrogen-powered buses, marking a globally significant leap toward sustainable mobility in extreme terrains.As per news agency PTI, the green hydrogen buses were handed over by NTPC Limited to the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) in a formal ceremony held at NTPC’s hydrogen mobility station in Palam, Leh. Administrative secretary of the transport department Bhupesh Chaudhary inspected the green hydrogen plant, including its production, storage, and dispensing systems. He commended NTPC’s technological feat in executing this project at high altitude and highlighted its role in achieving a carbon-neutral Ladakh.Chief secretary Pawan Kotwal lauded the “pioneering efforts” of NTPC, stating that the successful operationalisation of hydrogen buses in such extreme terrain “could usher in a new era of hydrogen fuel cell mobility in India.” He also directed the corporation to document all operational learnings for replication across other regions.This initiative is the result of collaborative efforts between NTPC and the Ladakh administration. It stands as a powerful symbol of India’s growing leadership in renewable energy innovation and aligns with the Centre’s broader push toward net-zero emissions.The world’s first hydrogen fuelling station at such a high altitude, 11,562 feet above sea level, was launched by NTPC in November last year. Co-located with a 1.7 MW solar plant, the station operates entirely on renewable power.The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 350 metric tonnes annually and contribute 230 metric tonnes of pure oxygen, equivalent to planting nearly 13,000 trees.NTPC, India’s largest integrated power utility with over 81 GW of installed capacity, has an ambitious plan to reach 60 GW of renewable energy by 2032. With 9.6 GW of green capacity under construction, the hydrogen mobility initiative in Ladakh represents a crucial step in the company’s clean energy transition.
