2 hrs ago
India’s Hydrogen Stoves Offer an Alternative to LPG
A new kind of stove makes its own hydrogen fuel from water.
It uses electricity to separate the water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The hydrogen burns to make a cooking flame, and the article says the flame produces water vapour.
One company, GreenVize, sells these stoves in India.
Some people have started using them because LPG can be hard to get or expensive.
But the stoves cost much more upfront than many households can afford.
Researchers and companies are testing ways to use renewable electricity and make more stoves.
They hope larger production will bring prices down, but long-term costs and repairs are not yet known.
GreenVize’s stove uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, then burns the hydrogen for cooking.
The company says its domestic stove can run about a month on a 3-litre tank; prices range from Rs 1,05,000 to Rs 1,50,000.
Vikash Kumar in Bihar says he bought a double-burner stove after LPG shortages and price increases.
IIT Bombay researcher Prakash Chandra Ghosh says a solar-powered system produced enough hydrogen for 200–250 meals a day.
The technology faces high costs and uncertain long-term repair needs, while companies say mass production could lower prices.
- Who
- GreenVize, its customers, and researchers including Prakash Chandra Ghosh at IIT Bombay.
- What
- Hydrogen cooking stoves that generate fuel by splitting water using electricity.
- Where
- India, including Bihar, Meghalaya, and a demonstration at IIT Bombay.
- When
- GreenVize made its first stove sale in March 2026; customers interviewed said they had been using the stoves for the last few months.
- Why
- The stoves are being developed as an alternative to LPG and other conventional fuels, amid concerns about supply dependence, price volatility, and indoor pollution.
Potential benefits
Challenges and limitations
Energy security and cleaner cooking
Potential benefits
Supporters say hydrogen cooking could reduce reliance on imported LPG and, when hydrogen is made with renewable electricity, avoid carbon emissions and indoor air pollution.
Challenges and limitations
The article notes that hydrogen must be produced using energy, and its climate benefits depend on using renewable electricity; the stoves are also not yet widely available.
Affordability and readiness
Potential benefits
GreenVize and its users say the stoves can be useful during LPG shortages, and the company expects mass production to reduce costs.
Challenges and limitations
Domestic models currently cost Rs 1,05,000–1,50,000, commercial models cost Rs 3,50,000, and long-term repair and replacement costs have not been established.
Key facts
- Domestic stove prices
- Rs 1,05,000 for a single burner and Rs 1,50,000 for a double burner.
- Commercial stove price
- Rs 3,50,000.
- Tank capacity
- The domestic model described has a 3-litre tank; GreenVize says it lasts an average user about a month.
- Fuel-generation method
- A built-in PEM electrolyser uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
- IIT Bombay demonstration
- A 25 kW solar-powered unit reportedly produced 2.5–3 kg of green hydrogen daily for 200–250 meals.
- First sale
- GreenVize says its first stove sale was to the Indian Army in March 2026.
- India’s green hydrogen target
- The article says India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
Quotes
Prakash Chandra Ghosh
Professor in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
“A 25 kW solar-powered green hydrogen production unit was demonstrated at IIT Bombay during the recent West Asia crisis. We showed that it was capable of producing 2.5–3 kg of green hydrogen a day to prepare 200–250 meals. IIT Bombay’s canteen relied on the system for daily meal preparation.”
indianexpress.com
“This stove is quicker than the LPG one we had before, and the safety of the valves is built into the system itself, which is a plus. We bought two commercial single-burner cooktops after the LPG crisis hit, and found it to be very cost-effective.”
indianexpress.com









