NTPC Deploys Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses in Leh, Marks India’s First Commercial Hydrogen Mobility Project

NTPC Limited, India’s largest integrated power producer, has handed over five hydrogen fuel cell buses to the Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDCO), an entity under the Leh administration. The handover, which took place on 18 June 2025, represents India’s first commercial-scale deployment of hydrogen fuel cell buses and sets a new global benchmark by operating at the highest altitude for such vehicles worldwide.

This milestone follows the inauguration of NTPC’s Green Hydrogen Mobility Station in Leh in November 2024. Located at an altitude of 11,562 feet, the station is powered by a dedicated 1.7 MW solar plant and includes India’s first high-pressure hydrogen dispensing system, operating at 350 bar. The buses are specifically engineered to function in Leh’s extreme climatic conditions, including sub-zero temperatures and low oxygen levels.

The initiative is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 350 metric tonnes annually and contribute about 230 metric tonnes of pure oxygen to the atmosphere, an environmental benefit comparable to planting 13,000 trees.

The official handover ceremony was attended by Bhupesh Chowdhry, IAS, MD of SIDCO and Secretary of Transport, along with K.K. Hota, GM & CEO of NUGEL, and senior officials from NTPC and the Leh administration. Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, congratulated NTPC on establishing the country’s first hydrogen mobility project and encouraged further adoption of hydrogen-based technologies in pursuit of a carbon-neutral Ladakh. Dr. Kotwal also stressed the importance of documenting key learnings from the project to inform future hydrogen initiatives in the region.

NTPC currently has an installed capacity exceeding 81 GW and is actively expanding its renewable portfolio, with 29.5 GW under construction—including 9.6 GW from renewable sources. The company aims to achieve 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032, as part of its broader commitment to sustainable and clean energy solutions.