ENERGY CONSORTIUM
Accelerating Net Zero
CARBONLITE CHRONICLES:
QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE ENERGY CONSORTIUM
JULY 2025
THE ROAD AHEAD
A Message From The CEO
Dear Energy Enthusiasts,
Welcome to our July edition of Carbon Lite Chronicles!
This past quarter has marked several new strategic initiatives for us at the Energy Consortium. We have partnered with the UKās Energy Systems Catapult for identifying long-term areas of mutual interest. This is a very exciting opportunity at a very interesting time for both of us as well as our two countries.
We have now solemnized our joint commitment with GRIDINDIA to develop training curricula for Tanzania and to work on joint research topics that will best bring out our strengths for addressing the specific requirements of the region. The excellent encouragement from IIT Madras Zanzibar Director & Prof Preeti Aghalayam and IIT Madras Dean for Global Engagement Prof Raghu Rengaswamy have provided us the vital drive towards this.
Congratulations are due to a number of efforts from our CCUS faculty teams. They have successfully partnered under the leadership of TLC2 for the DST + Ultratech funded joint industry-academia-government collaborative CCU test bed, where the team will be developing a 1 TPD pilot plant for COā capture in a cement industry coupled with mineralization that will be coming up at the Discovery campus of IIT Madras. Congratulations to the team who are partnering with NLCIL for the development and deployment of ionic liquids, amine blends, and electrochemical methods for carbon capture. There is significant momentum now in the CCUS area with multiple efforts underway and well-funded by our industry partners.
In this backdrop, we conducted our 4th Industry Day and hosted all our eleven industry members on campus. The last week of June has been, for the past four years, reserved for deep dives with our advisory board and representatives from all member companies to discuss current priorities and review progress on funded projects as well as to take stock of immediate and long-term goals.
The Energy Consortium affiliated industry and academia participants reaffirmed our commitment to working collaboratively in energy transition research, technology and innovation, and now the conclave intends to sustain and scale these efforts as we look to the coming 1 to 3 year window!
Warm regards,
Nikhil Tambe
CEO,
Energy Consortium, IIT Madras
POWERING CONVERSATIONS
The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras Partners with UK's Energy Systems Catapult to Drive Net-Zero Innovation
The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras has entered into a strategic partnership with Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), a UK government-backed innovation centre focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero energy future. This collaboration signifies a major step for cross-border knowledge exchange and the commercialization of clean energy technologies.
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Ā The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially announced today with key representatives from both EC (Dean Manu Santhanam, Dean Raghunathan Rengasamy, Prof. Satyanarayanan Seshadri, and CEO Nikhil Tambe) and ESC (Brendan O’Neill and Lowri Williams), alongside the British High Commission (Babita Sharma and Tabinda Bashir).
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This partnership will enable joint research and development initiatives in critical areas, including renewable energy, smart grids, green hydrogen, electric mobility, and green ports. It also aims to foster innovation in energy policy and regulation through bilateral workshops and collaborative studies relevant to both India and the UK. This collaboration further strengthens IIT Madrasā long-standing ties with the UK in the energy sector, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing clean energy innovation and international partnerships.
NLC India and The Energy Consortium - IIT Madras Join Forces to Advance Carbon Capture Technologies
The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras has signed a new strategic partnership agreement with NLC India Limited. This collaboration marks a significant step towards advancing India’s decarbonization goals, with a specific focus on economical Carbon Capture technologies and the future utilization of captured carbon dioxide.
Through this partnership, NLC India Limited aims to leverage IIT Madrasās robust academic and innovation ecosystem. The goal is to pilot, refine, and ultimately scale practical Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) solutions that are suitable for large-scale deployment in industrial settings.
The partnership reflects a shared, time-bound commitment to supporting Indiaās decarbonization goals through scientifically robust and commercially viable technologies.
The Energy Consortium will serve as the collaborative platform, facilitating co-development of solutions, student engagement, and long-term knowledge exchange tailored to NLCILās operational context.
A Big Leap Towards the Future of Clean Energy: IIT Madras Partners with Triveni Turbine Limited
In a significant step towards advancing next-generation clean energy solutions, Triveni Turbine Limited has entered into a partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras to jointly develop capabilities in supercritical carbon dioxide (sCOā) technologies. This collaboration will focus on building cutting-edge infrastructure, fostering human capital, and accelerating innovation in sCOā-based power systems ā a frontier area with transformative potential for the energy sector.
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Key areas of collaboration include leveraging IIT Madrasā existing transcritical sCOā test loop and high-pressure testing infrastructure to accelerate research and validation. The partnership will also focus on developing a new high-temperature sCOā test loop to explore advanced applications and establishing a dedicated Triveni Test Lab for Integrated sCOā Circuitsācreating a robust platform for experimentation, capability development, and industrial-scale innovation.
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This collaboration marks a powerful step forward in aligning research, industry, and innovation for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
WORKSHOP
Industry Member Mid-Year Events
The Industry day has for the past four years, since its inception, been the annual focused activity that brings all industry members of the Energy Consortium on campus to deliberate on ongoing projects, initiatives and strategies.
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Key aspects of Industry Day include a very specific focus on accelerating net zero.Ā It includes Collaborative Sessions to align research agendas and foster partnerships among stakeholders, Presentations from and Discussions with faculty, announcements including where the Industry Advisory Board awards research proposals in high-risk, high-reward and early career tracks. The event highlights the consortium’s role in driving innovation in critical energy transition areas.
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It a good opportunity to hear broad perspectives and to converge on a common path going forward. The Energy Consortium is proud to have technology experts from across the world investing almost half a week on campus and leading to invigorating conversations with faculty and students. 2025 was the largest āindustry dayā for us given that we now have eleven members.
Agenda Highlights:
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Workshop on Transportation Decarbonization (with CoEZET IIT Madras & The Mint Collaborative
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Stakeholder Roundtable on Green Ports (with Office of Alumni and Corporate Relations, IIT Madras )
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TRENDSetter 2025 Awards ā Celebrating energy innovation
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Technology Demonstrator Tours ā Experience EC-led breakthroughs firsthand
Joint Technical Workshops on Transportation Decarbonization
A Joint Technical Workshop was organized jointly on Transportation Decarbonization on the sidelines of the Industry Day 2025. This workshop was led by three centers at IIT Madras The Energy Consortium – IIT Madras , the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking and The Mint Collaborative.
The workshop provided an invited group of external speakers from industry such as Aramco, GMDC, Ashok Leyland, Umeandus, Sun Mobility, and Infosys, government agencies including Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, ARAI, and Chennai Unified Metropolitan Authority as well as few startups to share their perspectives on pathways leading to decarbonization, initiatives underway and overall outlook.
The Energy Consortium believes that together the three centres at IIT Madras have the unique opportunity to leverage skills and expertise to explore sustainable mobility pathways and net-zero transformation strategies in the transportation sector.
This compact convening has provided some insightful takeways and will allow us to identify specific areas of collaborative work.
Accelerating Green Hydrogen: The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras Hosts Key Workshop with Xynteo and Technip Energies
On June 25, Xynteoās Energy Leap and The Energy Consortium ā IIT Madras co-hosted a pivotal workshop, “Accelerating Green Hydrogen: Unlocking Indiaās Technological Prowess,” at IIT Madras. Exclusively sponsored by Technip Energies and Rely, this event united leaders from industry, government, academia, and startups to forge a clear path for Indiaās green hydrogen ecosystem.
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The keynote by Dr. Sujit Pillai (MNRE) underscored the urgent need to indigenise electrolyser manufacturing and strengthen domestic supply chains. Subsequent roundtables, featuring experts like Atul Verma, Bhaskar Bose, Anuradda Ganesh, and Santosh K Gurunath from industry, alongside startup founders Alok Kumar, Supriya Patwardhan, and Ajeet Babu Parasumanna, delved into critical challenges spanning scaling, commercialization, policy, funding gaps, and market access. The workshop concluded with a collaborative session, defining actionable steps to accelerate green hydrogen adoption.
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This successful initiative marks a significant evolution of our existing engagements with Xynteo and Technip Energies, establishing a unified platform for sustained collaboration and driving India’s green hydrogen journey forward.
Stakeholder roundtable on Green Ports: Pathways to Sustainable Maritime Infrastructure
Traditional port operations are often resource-intensive, contributing to emissions, inefficiencies, and ecological impact. In response, the concept of Green Ports has emergedāports designed to minimize environmental impact while enabling sustainable economic development.
The Energy Consortium, as outlined in its 2024 annual report, has made a conscious decision towards sustainable infrastructure development and essentially is looking at a broader set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) beyond just Clean and Affordable Energy (SDG7). A stakeholder dialogue on pathways to sustainable maritime infrastructure was organized on the sidelines of the industry day 2025 with the aim of fostering a shared understanding of current initiatives, to uncover key opportunities and challenges, and to catalyze cross-sectoral partnerships to accelerate Indiaās green port transition.
The roundtable jointly conducted with the Office of Alumni & Corporate Relations was presided over by Shri. T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, the Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, Shri Sunil Paliwal, IAS, Chairperson, Chennai Port Authority, Eske Bo Rosenberg, Consul General Denmark in India (Bangalore) and Head ā Trade and Innovation, and Prof Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean ā ACR, IIT Madras, highlighting its strategic relevance.
Expected outcomes
- Mapping of key challenges and enabling factors for green port development
- Identification of short- and medium-term opportunities for collaboration across stakeholders
- Launch of a dialogue series or working group hosted by IIT Madras on green maritime infrastructure
- A brief outcome document capturing key insights and proposed action points, shared with relevant ministries and port trusts
SPECIAL MENTION
The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras Faculty Drives Green Hydrogen Innovation in Key Indo-Danish Project
We’re pleased to announce a major achievement for The Energy Consortium- IIT Madras and our affiliated faculty! Prof. Shanti Swarup has been selected for a pivotal Green Hydrogen Research Project under the 2024 Indo-Danish bilateral research call. This initiative, part of the strategic Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark, aims to accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge hydrogen technologies.
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Out of 15 joint proposals, Prof. Swarup, in collaboration with Prof. Kaushik Das of DTU – Technical University of Denmark, will be a core part of the “Strategic Green Hydrogen Integration Towards Energy Transition and Localisation Demand to Deployment (SHIELD)” project. This significant effort is focused on converting renewable electricity into green fuels for clean transport and a decarbonized industry.
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This selection highlights our commitment to leading advanced energy research and our crucial role in fostering international collaboration for a sustainable future.
Wind Energy Research Gets a Boost: New Centre Focuses on Wind Power Innovation
The Energy Consortium – IIT Madras fosters collaboration across all energy-related disciplines. Our expertise spans carbon capture, renewable energy integration, green hydrogen production, next-generation energy storage, distributed energy management for microgrids etc.
The Jaisri and Venkat Rangan Wind Energy CoRE, led by Prof. Chandramouli Padmanabhan is poised to revolutionize wind energy. This new centre tackles the full spectrum of wind power, from rooftop turbines bringing clean energy to remote locations to large-scale offshore wind farms. The CoRE’s focus includes both onshore and offshore wind energy, to develop cutting-edge technologies that maximize energy generation and minimize environmental impact.
Wind energy is a critical sector in the global pursuit of net zero emissions. The Jaisri and Venkat Rangan Wind Energy CoRE is committed to developing innovative solutions that propel us towards a sustainable future.
As per the charter of the consortium, a fair portion of the industry membership funding is intended for exploratory and collaborative research that enables the Energy Consortium to become one of the key technology hubs. TheĀ TechnologyĀ ResearchĀ ENgineering andĀ Development setter (TRENDSetter)Ā program was established to identify areas aligned with the long-range research initiatives of the industry and to build capability within the consortium. In its 3rd year of grant awards the TRENDSetter continues to have the Track 2 that recognizes promising high potential novel ideas from early career research faculty, but we intend to fine tune the Track 1 grant so that our objective 1) will be to fund proposals that are directly related to the core activities of the energy consortium and 2) those involving development of larger-scale pilots, containerized or modularized for demonstration of scale-up technology. For 2025, a newer area in Alternate Fuels that can, similar to the Carbon Capture Container, attract follow-on funding from government agencies and industry partners is been considered.
Ā We are pleased to announce the following awardees for 2025
Track 1 ā Pilot Demonstrators:
Prof. Varunkumar S, Mechanical Engineering
Track 2 ā Early Career Faculty:
Prof. T. Palaniselvam, Chemistry
Prof. Sagar Sourav, Chemical Engineering
Prof. Richa Karmakar, Biotechnology
ENERGY BRIEFS
Dive into the Future of Energy with JouleCast: Voices in Energy
Our JouleCast: Voices in Energy podcast continues to bring you cutting-edge insights from leading experts shaping the sustainable energy landscape. Catch up on our latest episodes exploring vital topics that are driving climate action and innovation.
Modelling the Future with Dr. Sudharshan Saranathan: Dr. Sudharshan Saranathan, R&D Specialist at The Energy Consortium ā IIT Madras, discusses the Climate Action Tool for impactful policy decisions.
šŗ Watch on YouTube
Energy, Oceans & the SDG Puzzle ā Insights from Dr. Rahul Muralidharan: Dr. Rahul Muralidharan, R&D Specialist in Environmental Governance at The Energy Consortium ā IIT Madras, explores marine governance and multi-sectoral climate strategies.
Exploring LCA with Dr. Ankita Bhatt: Dr. Ankita Bhatt, Research Scientist, IIT Madras, unpacks Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and its role in sustainable change for Indian industries.
šŗ Watch now on YouTube
Fueling the Future with Lasers: Dr. Hemalaxmi Rajavelu, a researcher at The Energy Consortium ā IIT Madras, shares insights into advanced laser-based diagnostics for combustion and future fuels.
Meet Dr. Omkar Kushwaha on CCUS and Climate Innovation: Dr. Omkar Kushwaha, R&D Scientist, CCUS, The Energy Consortium ā IIT Madras, discusses the science and solutions behind Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS).
šŗ Watch now on YouTube
Revolutionizing Industrial Heat with Dr. Nishant Modi: Dr. Nishant Modi from the ENERG Lab shares insights into high-temperature heat pumpsāa game-changing technology for industrial decarbonization.
šŗ Check now
Powering the Future: IIT Madras Leads Innovation at GRIDCON 2025
A team from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras, comprising both faculty and students, recently showcased their groundbreaking research and innovations at GRIDCON 2025. Organized by POWERGRID in association with CIGRE INDIA from March 9-11, 2025, in New Delhi, this event focused on enhancing the reliability, sustainability, and adaptability of power transmission systems.
IIT Madras and EC’s contributions were highly recognized:
Best Paper by Woman Author: Awarded to Gayathri Sivaguru for her work on “Fault Detection in Power Grids Using a Digital Twin Framework.”
Second Best Start-Up Award: Presented to Gunjan Kapadia for Sthyr Energy Private Limited, a venture co-founded with IIT Madras students.
The event also featured impactful research presentations from the team, including:
“Fault Detection in Power Grids Using a Digital Twin Framework” ā Gayathri Sivaguru, Gaurav Kumar, Rochisnu Dutta, Shanti Swarup.
“The V2G Opportunity in India for Future Energy Management and Realizing Smart Grids” ā Muhammed Firoz MK, Nikhil Tambe, Shanti Swarup.
“Sustainable Energy Transition in India Using Econometric and Machine Learning” ā Yuta Takayanagi, Rochisnu Dutta, K Shanti Swarup, Li Zhidong.
“Virtualization of Protection in a Distribution Substation” ā Bhaskar Sahu, K. Shanti Swarup.
“Grid Automation for Self-Healing Using Optimized AGC in Digital Twin Framework” ā Neha Gupta, Aprajay Verma, Sudipta Saha; Binayak, Jhon Xavier, K Shanti Swarup.
Innovation, sustainability, and resilience were at the core of GRIDCON 2025, and our team’s strong presence underscores IIT Madras and EC’s commitment to driving change for a smarter, greener energy future.
EDUCATION
Joint Masters in Sustainable Energy Systems Offered by IIT Madras & University of Birmingham
The Joint Masters Program in Sustainable Energy Systems, offered by IIT Madras and the University of Birmingham, is an 18-month academic journey starting at IIT Madras in Chennai and continuing at the University of Birmingham. The program provides invaluable international exposure, featuring opportunities for industrial placements and a year-long research project co-guided by expert faculty from both institutions.
After completing the second semester, students can tailor their experience by choosing between two tracks, allowing further specialization.
The course details are available at https://lnkd.in/g3c_E6PC
This unique program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to lead in sustainable energy, making a meaningful impact on our planet’s future.
Summer Internship Program Commences at The Energy Consortium - IIT Madras
The 2024 Summer Internship Program at The Energy Consortium, IIT Madras, has commenced with enthusiastic participation from students across various academic disciplines. Running from May 22nd to July 21st, the program offers participants the opportunity to delve into cutting-edge energy research through goal-oriented mini-projects supervised by industry experts. Focused on advancing knowledge in energy generation, storage, and distribution, the internship aims to cultivate practical skills and foster innovation among talented young minds.
We anticipate that this program will serve as a launching pad for future breakthroughs in the energy sector. Stay tuned for updates on the program’s progress and achievements in upcoming newsletters.
NEWS
The Energy Consortium - IIT Madras Engages at bp's "Physical Meets Digital" Event
The Energy Consortium – IIT Madras participated in bpās āPhysical Meets Digitalā event in Bengaluru. This event underscored bp’s expanded presence and commitment to India’s energy future, strategically leveraging the cityās dynamic innovation ecosystem.
Key themes included advancements in seismic studies, geomechanics, sustainable aviation fuels, biofuels feedstock, and techno-economic modelling. The panel sessions highlighted how digital tools are reshaping traditional energy systems and unlocking new possibilities.
Engaging conversations with experts such as Mahesh Natarajan, Dushyant Sharma, Arnab Nandi, and Nikhil Tambe added to the depth and relevance of the eventāunderscoring the importance of collaborative innovation in shaping Indiaās energy future.
The Energy Consortium - IIT Madras Mentored Startups Win HDFC Parivartan Grant for Clean Tech Innovation
We are delighted to announce and celebrate the outstanding winners of the Parivartan Startup Grants 2025ā2026, awarded by HDFC Bank to support high-impact startups working at the intersection of clean technology, climate resilience, and the circular economy.
These visionary entrepreneurs are developing innovative, scalable solutions that are shaping a cleaner, more resilient, and equitable future. Among the winners is a promising startup mentored by The Energy Consortium ā IIT Madras, reflecting our continued commitment to fostering sustainability-driven innovation.
This yearās grant recipients include Wankel Energy Systems, EarthFokus, Inventive Scientific Minds LLP, TRIGeN Decarbonisation, Satiq Concrete Manufacturer Pvt. Ltd., JSP Enviro Private Limited, CeraTattva InnoTech, and XYMA Analytics.
These startups exemplify the power of purpose-led innovation in addressing some of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time. The Energy Consortium congratulates all the winners and looks forward to supporting their ongoing journeys toward lasting impact.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Energy Consortium Launches Shell IITM Centre for Energy Research (SICER)
The Energy Consortium at IIT Madras is proud to announce the launch of the Shell IITM Centre for Energy Research (SICER).Ā This joint initiative represents a significant step forward in fostering collaboration between academia and industry for energy research and development.
SICER will spearhead innovation in the energy sector through cutting-edge research and development efforts. Its focus extends beyond just developing new technologies; it aims to accelerate their commercialization for tangible real-world impact. The Shell Chair Professorship, a key aspect of this partnership, will foster a continuous exchange of knowledge between Shell and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
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