In a significant boost to India’s clean energy ambitions, researchers at MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) have pioneered a safer and more cost-effective technology to transport hydrogen — a fuel poised to play a crucial role in decarbonising the economy. The team has successfully engineered a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) system capable of transporting hydrogen in a stable liquid form that is non-flammable, non-explosive, and manageable at normal temperature and pressure. This breakthrough effectively removes one of the biggest barriers slowing the widespread use of hydrogen in India. 

Prof (Dr) Rajib Kumar Sinharay, Principal Investigator, said, “The first fifty days showed no reaction at all, but we refused to step back. Nearly ten months and close to a hundred trials later, we crossed a milestone that had never been achieved anywhere. Building an entire methodology from scratch was challenging, but it proved that persistent science always pays off.” 

The innovation began when Ohm Cleantech Private Limited (OCPL) approached MIT-WPU to solve a challenge that had remained unsolved at major institutions, including IITs. There was no existing documented methodology worldwide, meaning the research team had to conceptualise and build the entire process from scratch. Prof (Dr) Rajib Kumar Sinharay, Principal Investigator, described the initial months as a test of resolve, since nearly fifty days of experimentation showed no visible reaction. However, sustained scientific determination paid off, and after nearly ten months and close to a hundred trials, the team achieved a major milestone. Details of the proprietary method remain confidential as OCPL advances international patent filings. 

Siddharth Mayur, founder of OCPL, informed, “The innovation began when Ohm Cleantech Private Limited, which us a Part of h2e Power Group, approached MIT-WPU to solve a challenge that had remained unsolved. There was no existing documented methodology in India, which meant the research team had to conceptualise and build the entire process from scratch along with the OCPL team. The progress achieved here marks a major step forward for safe, Innovative, cost effective and scalable hydrogen transport, and strengthens our efforts as we move ahead with international patent filings. OCPL is excited to take this research forward and make a commercial product, which is in line with the National Green Hydrogen Mission & The Vision of AtmaNirbharBharat as Envisaged by our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji.” 

Hydrogen, despite being one of the cleanest fuel options available, has been difficult to integrate into energy systems due to its highly explosive nature and the extreme conditions required for transport. Currently, hydrogen is either compressed into high-pressure cylinders exceeding hundreds of times atmospheric pressure or liquefied at temperatures below minus 253 degrees Celsius. Both methods demand complex infrastructure, heavy safety protections, and high investment, making hydrogen transportation one of the most critical cost hurdles in its supply chain. 

MIT-WPU’s LOHC innovation solves these issues through a two-stage chemical process. In the hydrogenation phase, hydrogen is bonded into a specially designed organic liquid, transforming the gas into a safer liquid form for easier storage and transport. In the dehydrogenation phase, the hydrogen is released at the final destination, while the carrier liquid remains reusable. The simplicity of handling this hydrogen-rich liquid means it can be moved through existing fuel tankers, storage containers, and potentially even standard pipeline networks — drastically lowering operational cost and transport risks. 

The results obtained during laboratory trials place India at the forefront of LOHC advancements. The MIT-WPU team achieved complete hydrogen storage in just two hours, significantly faster than the eighteen hours reported in other studies globally. The process operated at only 130 degrees Celsius — compared to the usual 170 degrees Celsius — and at a relatively low pressure of 56 bar. The hydrogenated liquid was able to store nearly 11,000 litres of hydrogen within just 15.6 litres of the carrier. In dehydrogenation experiments, the team successfully recovered 86 percent of the stored hydrogen, with further research underway to improve efficiency. 

Prof Datta Dandge, Research Advisor, said, “The ability to transport hydrogen like any other industrial liquid removes long-standing safety and regulatory barriers. This breakthrough can accelerate the entire hydrogen mission for the country and reshape clean-energy logistics for transport and heavy industry.” 

According to Prof Datta Dandge, Research Advisor, this technology has the potential to transform clean energy logistics in India. He emphasised that the ability to transport hydrogen like any other industrial liquid removes long-standing safety roadblocks and regulatory complexities, making hydrogen more accessible as a future fuel for transport and heavy industry. 

The research was conducted in MIT-WPU’s advanced hydrogen laboratory equipped with an autoclave system capable of operating at 350 degrees Celsius and pressures up to 200 bar. The team continues to refine the process with the goal of scaling from laboratory success to industrial deployment. 

Project Fellow and PhD student at MIT-WPU Nishant Patil, shared, “Working on a breakthrough with national impact has been a defining experience. It strengthened my resolve to contribute to innovations that can shape India’s clean-energy future.” 

For Project Fellow Nishant Patil, who contributed directly to the development, this project has been a defining learning experience. He shared that working on a breakthrough with national impact reinforced his commitment to pursuing innovation in India’s evolving clean energy landscape.