Baglung. A technology to produce green hydrogen gas for cooking purposes for the first time in Nepal has been developed in Badigad Rural Municipality, Baglung. After successful testing of hydrogen gas produced using electricity and water that would otherwise go to waste, cooking has now started by filling cylinders. The study and research, which began as a pilot project three years ago, have now moved towards commercial use by producing hydrogen gas after its success. It has been observed that cooking can be easily done by burning stoves with the gas produced under the project. The project has been operated in collaboration with Tribhuvan University and universities, scientists, and technical institutions from various countries. The project will now further study the safe distribution system and commercial expansion of hydrogen gas. Hydrogen gas has been extracted using electricity produced from the Girindikhola micro-hydro project located in Badigad Rural Municipality-2. The electricity from this micro-hydro project, established in 2066 BS, was being wasted due to lack of consumption, and a new technology was tested using it. In the study conducted for three years in collaboration with seven partner and technical institutions, eight cylinders have been filled with green hydrogen gas so far. After the initial test conducted a year ago was successful, filling cylinders safely has now begun. According to Mohan Das Manandhar, Chairman of the Nepal Energy Foundation, the technology used separates only hydrogen from oxygen in water and fills it into cylinders. He said that the gas can be used in stoves as needed. Hydrogen gas for cooking has been produced with the cooperation of scientists and technicians from various countries in collaboration with Nepal Energy Foundation, Women’s Network for Energy and Environment Nepal, S&AO Company Limited UK and HSLU Switzerland, Alternative Energy Promotion Center Kathmandu, Badigad Rural Municipality and Girindikhola Micro-hydro Project. Minister of Economic Affairs of Gandaki Province Government, Jit Bahadur Sherchan, inaugurated the project on Friday by burning a stove with the produced hydrogen gas. Minister Sherchan said that such projects should be promoted by the state at the policy level as green hydrogen enhances environmental protection, increases electricity consumption, and expands the possibility of cooking with domestic energy. According to Dilli Ghimire, Manager of Nepal Energy Foundation, 18 months were spent studying only the safe filling of the produced gas into cylinders. He stated that 1 kg of hydrogen gas is sufficient for a small family to cook for about a week. Ghimire said that about Rs 1 crore has been spent excluding the study, from the reconstruction, building and canal repair of the 75 kW capacity project of Girindikhola Micro-hydro Cooperative to gas production. Bel Bahadur Thapa, Chairman of Girindikhola Micro-hydro Cooperative, said that fuel for cooking has been produced for consumers by utilizing electricity that was going to waste, and informed that studies will be conducted on the development and expansion of safe cylinders within the reach of citizens. Local Vishnu Aryal shared his experience that food cooked with hydrogen fuel is tasty and cooks quickly.
