IIT Hyderabad Partners with Coal India for Clean Energy Research

The largest drive towards clean energy, the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) has agreed with Coal India Limited (CIL) to set up the Centre of Clean Energy & Net Zero (CLEANZ). Funded by a ₹98 crore grant from CIL, the center will catalyze cutting-edge research and innovation in clean energy technologies.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked on Friday at IITH with IITH, Director of B.S. Murty, CIL, Chairman & Managing Director of P.M. Prasad, and Minister of Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy present. The tie-up represents an important step for India toward becoming carbon-neutral, consolidating the government's pledge towards solutions for green energy through research.

CLEANZ will concentrate on several priority areas such as the advanced recovery of coal bed methane, carbon capture and storage, coal liquefaction, gasification, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for energy management. The centre will also investigate how circular economy thinking can be applied and waste management practices enhanced within the industry. One of the peculiar aspects of CLEANZ is the facility for real-time collaboration between the National Centre of Coal and Energy Research, Ranchi and itself through high-bandwidth communications. This would facilitate a smooth transfer of knowledge among researchers at these two institutions. The facility would also act as a training institution, providing Research and Development opportunities for students, teaching staff, and professionals from the two organisations.

“This partnership with CIL is a crucial step in shaping India’s clean energy future,” said IITH, Director of B.S. Murty. “By combining academia and industry expertise, we aim to develop ground breaking solutions for carbon neutrality and sustainable energy production.” 

The arrival of CLEANZ is timely as India ramps up its efforts to fulfill its net-zero targets. With energy consumption set to grow dramatically in the next few decades, projects such as CLEANZ stand to take center stage in the process of closing the gap between fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. Though the ultimate effect of this collaboration will be seen much later, it is a promising development towards reimagining India's energy future.