IIT Roorkee sets up hydro turbine R&D facility to boost India’s net zero 2070 push

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has set up a new research facility dedicated to ultra-low head and hydrokinetic turbines, in a move that could strengthen India’s push towards its net zero 2070 goals.

Located within the institute’s department of hydro and renewable energy, the facility is designed to explore ways of generating power from water sources that are currently underutilised, such as canal drops and wastewater outlets.

The facility was inaugurated by Santosh Kumar Sarangi, secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), who underlined the growing role of small hydro power in India’s clean energy mix.

IIT Roorkee facility to boost small hydro power innovation

At the heart of the new setup are two dedicated units, the ultra-low head (ULH) laboratory and the hydrokinetic turbine (HKT) facility. These centres will focus on developing turbine technologies capable of generating electricity from water heads as low as one to four metres.

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Such low-head sites are common across India, particularly in irrigation systems, but have largely remained untapped due to technological limitations. With this facility, researchers aim to bridge that gap by testing new turbine designs, including propeller-based models and environmentally friendly screw turbines.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sarangi said, “Small hydro power will play an important role in rural remote and hilly areas, while supporting over 50 Lakh person days of employment during the project construction till FY 2030-31.”

“This facility will enable R&D into new SHP technologies, particularly ultra-low head and hydrokinetic turbines for industry adoption and deployment. This facility along with the recently announced SHP Development Scheme demonstrate MNRE’s commitment to SHP development and Net Zero 2070 goals of the country. He lauded the contributions of IIT Roorkee in this journey,” he added further.

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The project has been developed under the leadership of Arun Kumar with financial backing from MNRE, highlighting the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and government bodies in advancing clean energy solutions.

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During his visit, Sarangi reviewed a wide range of research activities at IIT Roorkee, including work in solar energy, biomass, hydrogen, and grid integration. He also visited existing hydro projects such as the mohammadpur power house and the chilla project on the Ganga, reflecting on the continued relevance of hydropower in India’s energy landscape.

IIT Roorkee director Kamal Kishore Pant said the new facility would contribute to building more reliable and scalable energy systems. “The facility will play a pivotal role in enabling reliable, scalable, and sustainable energy systems, not only supporting national priorities but also contributing to global climate goals,” he said.