Hindustan Zinc is considering hydrogen-powered technologies for its mining activities as it moves towards reducing its carbon footprint and industrial decarbonisation, industry sources said Thursday.

The company is investigating the potential of using hydrogen as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels for the energy consumption of heavy-duty machinery and equipment in the mining industry, as hydrogen produces no emissions apart from water when used in a fuel cell. Hydrogen has been recognised worldwide as a potential tool for those sectors where electrification would not be enough to lower greenhouse gas emissions, including mining operations.

The move is a sign of the industry's transition to a new generation of energy, as metals and mining companies want to find fewer polluting means of addressing increased demand for raw materials, Hindustan Zinc (HZL) officials said. The company has undertaken feasibility studies and pilot projects involving hydrogen-powered systems and fuel-cell applications in extraction and processing activities for vehicles, machinery and auxiliary equipment.

A company spokesperson said they are assessing hydrogen technologies to bring them into their operations to achieve meaningful emissions reductions. “Clean hydrogen can become a game-changer to enable operations for heavy-duty applications where other electrification solutions have technical barriers.”

There is a potential for hydrogen, and green hydrogen from renewable energy, to be important in reducing emissions from mining, steel and other high-energy users, industry analysts said. But there are several issues that need to be addressed, such as scaling up production, reducing costs, and building related infrastructure like refuelling stations and onsite storage.

Hindustan Zinc's investment in hydrogen solutions is in line with the national agenda to promote hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source, such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to increase the production capacity of hydrogen and its usage in various industrial value chains. Technically and economically, it is possible to drive equipment in mines with hydrogen, which can contribute to reducing dependence on diesel and lowering the emissions produced during operation, while contributing to the company's ambitious climate targets.

The effort by Hindustan Zinc is also part of a broader trend in the mining industry, as companies strive to adopt more environmentally friendly practices and meet the demands of stakeholders for greener operations. The initiative by Hindustan Zinc aligns with this broader trend in the mining industry, where companies are increasingly making efforts to adopt more sustainable practices and meet stakeholder expectations for eco-friendly operations.