THDC India Limited (THDCIL), a central public sector enterprise, and IIT Delhi have agreed to collaborate on research and development in areas such as electric vehicle batteries, green hydrogen, geothermal technologies, and waste management and recycling.

The country's biggest power generator, THDCIL, will collaborate with IIT Delhi to conduct research studies, pilot projects, and consulting engagements headed by academic members, the institute announced on Thursday.

The MoU was signed last week by S. K. Chauhan, HoD (R&D) at THDCIL, and Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean (R&D) of IIT Delhi. The deal will be in effect for five years.

These collaborative efforts, according to the institute, will cover a wide range of research domains, including but not limited to energy conservation, alternatives to lithium-ion storage batteries, nanotechnology for electric vehicle batteries, green hydrogen, geothermal technology, climate change issues, waste management/recycling, water management/conservation, vortex-induced vibrations, tunnelling techniques, biofuels, grid stability improvements, and various other permutations, as per economictimes.

Vishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director of THDC India Limited, stated that the THDCIL will aggressively reach out to IIT Delhi to launch joint projects and engage with research groups inside the institution while elaborating on the key areas of collaboration envisioned in the MoU.

"THDCIL has committed to providing comprehensive financial support for operational expenses as well as the cost of R&D activities." This funding will allow IIT Delhi to continue to undertake R&D initiatives on mutually agreed-upon terms, solidifying its status as a knowledge partner in collaborative research endeavours, according to Vishnoi.

According to the agreement, IIT Delhi will provide critical infrastructure assistance as well as access to scientific, engineering, and technical skills. These resources will be critical in facilitating R&D efforts that are aligned with the institute's academic endeavours.