Breakthrough by MIT-WPU: Green Hydrogen at $1/kg with Carbon-Negative Agro-Waste Technology
Pilot plant with 500 kg/day capacity, four granted patents, and dual byproducts—biochar & biofertilizers—shows scalable success
Researchers at the Green Hydrogen Research Centre of MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) have achieved a major breakthrough in clean energy innovation by developing a carbon-negative process that simultaneously produces BioCNG and Green Hydrogen from mixed agricultural waste. The research, led by Dr. Ratnadip Joshi, Associate Director, Green Hydrogen Research Centre, addresses both climate change and India’s agricultural waste challenge.
The process, backed by four granted patents, has been successfully demonstrated through a 500 kg/day pilot plant established on the MIT-WPU campus. Unlike earlier biomass-to-gas methods with efficiencies as low as 5–7 percent, the new process achieves 12 percent biomass-to-gas conversion efficiency.
Dr. Joshi explained, “Unlike many efforts that depend on a single feedstock, our process works with mixed agro-waste such as millet trash and seasonal residues, making it particularly effective for drought-prone regions. The biogas generated contains high methane content, which is further processed through a green catalytic pyrolysis method to yield Green Hydrogen.”
Ph.D. scholar Aniket Patrikar highlighted that the pyrolysis catalyst is plant-derived, enabling Green Hydrogen production without CO₂ emissions and removing the need for costly carbon capture systems. Another researcher, Avinash Lad, added that while electrolysis-based hydrogen production costs exceed $2/kg, MIT-WPU’s process can bring it down to $1/kg while remaining carbon-negative.
The innovation also produces biochar for use in industries like pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, cosmetics, and construction, and green-coated biofertilizers, which replace urea, reduce soil salinity, and release NPK nutrients only when water is available. Two patents have been granted for these sustainable biofertilizers.
Dr. Rahul Karad, Executive President, MIT-WPU, said, “This is not just a lab experiment—it is scalable, practical, and rooted in India’s realities. It empowers farmers, supports sustainable industries, and prepares our students to lead India’s green future.”
The innovation directly supports the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets 5 million metric tonnes of Green Hydrogen annually by 2030, and contributes to India’s Net Zero 2070 goal. Experts believe such grassroots innovations could even help India achieve net zero by 2050.
The breakthrough has already drawn the attention of leading energy companies exploring partnerships for technology transfer, marking a significant step towards a sustainable, self-reliant, and carbon-neutral India.
