UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Green Hydrogen

Q1. With reference to the classification of hydrogen by the way it is produced, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Grey hydrogen and blue hydrogen can come from the same chemical process, such as steam methane reforming of natural gas. They differ in what is done with the carbon dioxide that the process generates.
  2. Hydrogen obtained by gasification of coal is classified as green hydrogen if all the electricity used to run the plant comes from renewable sources.
  3. Hydrogen obtained by electrolysis of water is not green merely because electrolysis is used; its classification depends on the source of the electricity that drives it.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Hydrogen is regarded as an energy carrier rather than as a primary source of energy.
  2. When hydrogen is used in a fuel cell to generate electricity, the only by-products are water and heat.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. With reference to the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Hydrogen gas is released at the electrode where reduction takes place.
  2. Oxygen gas is released at the negatively charged electrode of the electrolytic cell.
  3. Because water itself is the source of both gases, the volume of hydrogen collected equals the volume of oxygen collected.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. With reference to the role of hydrogen in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the direct reduction of iron ore, hydrogen can take the place of coal as the agent that removes oxygen from the ore, so the reduction step releases water vapour instead of carbon dioxide.
  2. Petroleum refineries already consume hydrogen derived from fossil fuels, so green hydrogen there would largely replace an existing input rather than create an entirely new demand.
  3. Shipping is considered hard to abate mainly because ships cannot run on liquid fuels, so hydrogen derivatives have to be carried on board as compressed gas.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Fertiliser manufacture is classed as a hard-to-abate sector, even though the electricity used in fertiliser plants could be switched to renewable sources.
  2. In fertiliser manufacture, hydrogen is consumed as a chemical feedstock to make ammonia, and most of this hydrogen is currently derived from natural gas.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q6. India's Green Hydrogen Standard counts emissions on a 'well-to-gate' basis. For a plant producing hydrogen by electrolysis, consider the following statements about emissions counted under this boundary: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Emissions from treating the water fed to the electrolyser are counted.
  2. Emissions from compressing the hydrogen at the production facility are counted.
  3. Emissions from transporting the hydrogen by truck to a distant refinery are counted.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q7. A plant in India produces hydrogen by electrolysis of water. For part of the year it draws power from a coal-dominated grid, and for the rest it runs on solar power. Under India's Green Hydrogen Standard, whether its output qualifies as green hydrogen depends on

  • A. whether solar power supplies more than half of the electricity it consumes over a full year
  • B. whether the hydrogen yields only water and heat when it is later consumed in a fuel cell
  • C. whether electrolysis rather than fossil fuel reforming is the route used to make the hydrogen
  • D. whether its average emissions per kilogram of hydrogen over twelve months stay within a ceiling

Q8. With reference to the policy instruments used under India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Competitive procurement auctions for green ammonia assure producers of buyers and also reveal the price at which supply can actually be offered.
  2. Waiving inter-state transmission charges lowers the delivered cost of renewable power to an electrolyser located in a different State from the solar or wind plant.
  3. Production is clustered in hubs partly because hydrogen is difficult and costly to transport over long distances.
  4. Incentives under the SIGHT programme are confined to producing green hydrogen and leave domestic electrolyser manufacturing outside their scope.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only