IIT Madras To Work With Industries & Institutes On Industrial R&D

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) along with IITM Research Park is going to work with industries and research institutes on industrial R&D needs, skill development, creating incubators, testing/validation standards and policy advocacy in the ‘Green Hydrogen’ sector.

This is part of the 'Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster in Tamil Nadu' (HVIC-TN) initiative, which comprises nearly 30 companies working in the hydrogen sector, IIT Madras Research Park, Guidance Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) besides a few consulates.

A key outcome expected from this initiative is to make HVIC-TN the hub of industrial R&D requirements to bring green hydrogen at an economical price and scale. This initiative is expected to contribute significantly towards the National Green Hydrogen Mission. 

In keeping with the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) vision to transform India into an energy-independent nation by 2047, it is providing funding for Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) activities essential for small-scale demonstration by enhancing the readiness of technologies in green hydrogen value chain.

An HVIC-Tamil Nadu stakeholders meeting was held at IIT Madras recently in which Dr. TRB Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, took part. 

Extending strong support for this initiative, Rajaa said, “The establishment of HVIC is in line with Tamil Nadu’s goal of manufacturing electrolyzers, exporting green hydrogen or its derivatives and developing hydrogen economy in the State. There is a huge capability in the State for electrolysers but they need a testing facility, which HVIC must provide. Tamil Nadu power is already 50 per cent green and HVIC will improve this further with green hydrogen.”

The HVIC-TN will cater to the needs of green hydrogen ambitions of the State and the country by providing technological solutions, support on R&D, skill development, infrastructure building, techno-economic feasibility and policy/regulatory recommendations. 

HVIC-TN will act as a platform for stakeholders in the hydrogen sector to network and enable faster green hydrogen adoption and transition. The cluster will also serve as a nodal agency, think tank, and knowledge partner in the State to attract or support any initiatives in the hydrogen sector. In addition, to enable seamless access to networks between countries, connections through consulates of various countries are enabled.