Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad and Coal India Limited (CIL) in a significant development on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Centre of Clean Energy & Net Zero (CLEANZ).
The centre, with a grant of ₹98 crore sanctioned by CIL, “will focus on cutting-edge research, technology development, and skill enhancement for sustainable energy solutions.”
The signing ceremony at IITH was attended by Director B.S. Murty and CIL Chairman and Managing Director P.M. Prasad in the presence of Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy.
According to officials, the MoU was part of the Ministry’s emphasis on enhancing research capabilities in the sector. The multiple thematic research areas of the collaboration include enhanced coal bed methane/coal mine methane recovery, carbon capture technologies and critical mineral beneficiation, coal liquefaction, gasification and Syngas utilisation, AI & ML applications in the energy sector, and circular economy and waste management.
The CLEANZ to be located on the IITH campus will be linked to the National Centre of Coal and Energy Research in Ranchi through high-bandwidth communication for seamless collaboration. The centre will also provide training, R&D facilities and offer joint prospects for students, the faculty, and professionals from both the organisations.
Officials added that CLEANZ aligns with the country’s commitment to net-zero emissions and sustainable energy development, and reinforcing the academia-industry partnership.
“This partnership with CIL marks a significant step in India’s energy transition. With this collaboration, we look forward to pioneering new-age solutions for clean energy and carbon neutrality,” Mr. Murty stated.
Published – March 09, 2025 08:35 pm IST
