Two new labs – Renewable Grid Integration Laboratory and Green Hydrogen Laboratory have been set up at the Hydro and Renewable Energy Department (HRED) of the Indian Institute of Technology (IITR) Roorkee. Prof. K.K. Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, inaugurated the labs with other eminent dignitaries, professors, and students, yesterday.
These labs are slated to significantly contribute to research on reliable, resilient, and Atmanirbhar transition to a clean energy grid in India. They are also expected to help meet India’s Energy Independence and Net Zero Carbon Energy Systems Goals.
Prof. Pant also visited other laboratories of the HRED, pursuing research in all aspects of renewable energy, including hydropower, energy storage, solar energy, biomass energy, management of water bodies, and energy systems modelling. Prof. U.P. Singh, Deputy Director, Prof Arun Kumar and Prof Sunil Singhal accompanied Prof. Pant during the lab visit.
Addressing the faculty and students, Prof. Pant said, “Establishment of the labs aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions and increase use of renewable energy sources and envisages making India a global hub for green hydrogen production and export. Achieving net zero carbon goals requires decarbonization of the electric grid. Variable renewable energy will be deployed at large scale to develop resilient and renewable energy-based power systems.”
Prof. Mukesh Singhal, Head, HRED, IITR, said that the department was geared up and committed to carrying out research and development work in all areas of renewable energy in a sustainable manner.
Prof. Himanshu Jain, Faculty In-charge of the lab, informed that the labs had been developed to pursue cutting-edge research in ensuring the high reliability and resilience of the renewable energy-dominated electric grid of India. It is equipped with hardware and software to pursue research in areas including stability analysis of India’s grid, pumped storage hydropower, development of inverter controls, cybersecurity, and wireless charging of electric vehicles.
“One research fellow, six PhD students, including one Prime Minister’s Research Fellow, and five M.Tech students are using the laboratory to pursue research in grid integration of renewable energy,” Prof Jain informed.
The laboratories are also aligned towards catering to the goals of the prestigious National Hydrogen Mission launched by the Govt. of India. Necessary equipment and software are also installed to research domains such as stack development, contact resistance management, and hydrogen production. Prof. Amit Bhosale, Faculty In-charge of Green Hydrogen Laboratory, highlighted the significance of the lab to envisage developments in electrochemistry, viz., fuel cells and electrolysers.
Since its establishment in 1847, IIT Roorkee has played a vital role in providing the country with technical human resources and know-how. The HRED at IIT Roorkee is completing its Ruby Jubilee this year. (India Science Wire)
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