SEVERAL CSIR LABS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING FUEL CELLS

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A number of laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research are fully involved in the development of fuel cells, as alternative for hydrocarbon resources which are fast depleting . India is one of the very few countries after the United States which have made a lot of headway in this frontier area of science.

Some of the CSIR labs involved in the programme are Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, and the National Chemical Laboratory. These have been carrying out work on diverse aspects of research relating to fuel cells for motor transport and stationary applications.

The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology has developed a stand-alone version of methanol based fuel cell. The Electrochemical Institute has demonstrated the operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell using platinised carbon electrodes with hydrogen and air at ambient temperature and pressure. The Glass and Ceramic Institute has developed components like, electrolyte, cathode and anode for solid oxide fuel cell.

The National Chemical Laboratory has developed a series of catalysts for reforming liquid feed stocks such as LPG and methanol as well as fuel cell stack for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. These laboratories have been allocated funds to the tune of nearly three crore rupees for the fuel cell R&D programme.

It may be noted that the Indo-US Science Forum, set up during president Clinton's visit to New Delhi, is focussing on futuristic technologies especially Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells, as alternative to hydrocarbons.