IIT Madras partners with Denmark for research projects in climate change mitigation

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) will be collaborating with industries and academia in Denmark for research projects in areas of climate change mitigation and enabling green transition.

At an event at IIT Madras research park (IITMRP) today, three projects in energy field were announced. The new projects focus on IIT Madras energy consortium's vision to enable energy transition toward low-carbon future. The research projects will accelerate technology development through industry-academia-government partnerships, and collaborate with global partners to develop technology solutions.

A fourth project in the field of water to promote cooperation in engineering education and scientific research between Danfoss, Denmark and IIT Madras. In addition to this, a panel discussion on ‘next generation fuels and energy systems with Indian and Danish industry leaders and experts’ was also conducted.

India and Denmark will be delivering on the ambition of the green strategic partnership and will select highly qualified projects under the Indo-Danish bilateral research call on green fuels. IIT Madras will collaborate with Danish researchers on 'efficient cost saving grid friendly power to X convertor' and 'tomorrow project!'.

As for the long-term commitment on collaborative research to accelerate energy transition to low carbon fuels, FLSmidth has joined as a founding member of the IIT Madras energy consortium. Meanwhile, to promote cooperation in engineering education and scientific research, Danfoss and IIT-M will undertake joint work on drinking water for coastal regions using renewable energy.

Addressing the event, government of Tamil Nadu, investment promotion and commerce, department of industries, additional chief secretary, IAS, S Krishnan, said: “Today, we are on the cusp of an important relationship between Tamil Nadu and Denmark - on the areas of clean energy and how to tackle climate change. Tamil Nadu continues to be the leader in renewable energy. More than 50 per cent of the installed capacity in Tamil Nadu are from renewable energy sources with potential for expansion in Wind, Solar and green hydrogen. All of this needs to come together in a way that works for the local economy of Tamil Nadu, India and the world at large.”

Speaking about Tamil Nadu's potential, he further added: “Danish Companies have been engaging with Tamil Nadu and we are very keen to support this enterprise. We are working closely with the Government of India in this area...Tamil Nadu has a Renewable Energy Installed Capacity of 20 GW of which 10 GW are in wind. There is potential for another 13 GW of Wind Energy onshore and 20 GW of offshore. The most promising offshore locations in India are off the Tamil Nadu Coast - The Gulf of Mannar.”