ENERGY CONSORTIUM

Accelerating Net Zero

CARBONLITE CHRONICLES:
QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE ENERGY CONSORTIUM
APRIL 2025

THE ROAD AHEAD

A Message From The CEO

Dear Energy Enthusiasts,

2025 has begun with a great technology showcase for us at the India Energy Week at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. The carbon capture demonstrator was displayed at Hall 1 alongside the some of the best efforts underway in the energy transition journey by leading industry majors including most of our founding members. The Energy Consortium strongly believes that such demonstrators will fast fill the credibility gap for lab based research and provide vital answers to otherwise confounding questions around commercialization potential and time to market. We look forward to partnering more closely with our industry members and other stakeholders in such endeavours this year.

We began the Accelerating Net Zero series to discuss upcoming topics in energy and highlight specific recommendations to various government agencies that we regularly interface with. We hope to continue this through 2025 as well and invite readers to share any topics that they would like to see more of through this bi-annual series. The role of AI in accelerating scientific discovery as well as accelerating research itself is a very potent research topic, as is the role of dynamic pricing in electricity markets that may soon see primetime in India.

This quarterly newsletter highlights the successful organization of the International Conference on Energy Storage and the tremendous outing of the EC affiliated faculty, students and start-ups at the GRIDCON. The consortium looks forward to an enriching events calendar in 2025.

Warm regards,

Nikhil S Tambe,

CEO – The Energy Consortium, IIT Madras

POWERING CONVERSATIONS

Fuelling Innovation: Collaborative Dialogues at Shell Technology Center Bangalore

Recent discussions at the Shell Technology Center Bangalore have further solidified our commitment to collaborative innovation. Shell Chair Prof. Satyanarayanan Seshadri and The Energy Consortium CEO, Dr. Nikhil Tambe engaged in productive conversations with Shell leaders, Ajay Mehta, Amit Walia and Vikrant Urade. These conversations focused on strengthening ongoing partnerships and outlining strategic plans for future initiatives.

A key aspect of these discussions was the continued vital role of the Shell IITM Centre for Energy Research (SICER) and the broader collaboration with The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras. This partnership, fueled by the expertise of faculty and industry stakeholders, is playing a vital role in advancing Open Innovation to address challenges in the Energy Transition.

As we continue to strengthen this partnership, we look forward to driving impactful research, developing cutting-edge technology, and delivering real-world solutions that contribute to a sustainable energy future.

Strengthening Ties: Chevron and Energy Consortium-IIT Madras Forge Paths for Future Energy Innovation.

Chevron, a valued founding member of The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras, continues to play a vital role in advising and supporting our research and development initiatives in sustainable energy technologies. Recent discussions with Jim Gable and Kaidong Chen, along with Industry Advisory Board Member Hariprasad J. Subramani, focused on The Energy Consortium’s progress and strategic plans for the future. This ongoing collaboration reinforces our shared commitment to driving innovation, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and accelerating the energy transition.

Expanding Global Impact: IIT Madras & GRIDINDIA Collaborate for Tanzania’s Energy Future

We hosted a delegation from GRIDINDIA for a deep dive workshop on leveraging combined expertise towards developing capacity-building and knowledge exchange initiatives to support the power sector development in Tanzania.

A key outcome of this collaboration can become the Energy Consortium’s expansion to IIT Madras Zanzibar Campus, creating a dedicated platform for regional energy partnerships. With IIT Madras’ leadership in engineering research and GRIDINDIA’s expertise in grid security, this initiative is set to deliver tailored solutions to meet Tanzania’s evolving energy needs.

By working together, The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras and GRIDINDIA seek to empower African nations by addressing critical challenges such as grid reliability, energy access, and renewable energy integration. This partnership marks a significant step towards regional energy independence and sustainable growth.

Energy Transition Acceleration: bp Visit Highlights Shared Goals

The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras was pleased to host Mahesh Natarajan, Arnab Nandi, and Dushyant Sharma from bp for an insightful discussion on collaborative opportunities in the energy transition domain.

Key focus areas included biofuels, blended fuels, sustainable aviation fuels, novel carbon capture, and the role of AI/ML and computational tools in accelerating innovation and economic viability studies. The discussions also explored engagement mechanisms to drive faster translation of research into real-world impact.

The dialogue further focused on effective engagement mechanisms that facilitate faster technology translation, leading to engaging and insightful conversations. This visit reinforces our commitment to fostering partnerships that drive impactful advancements in sustainable energy solutions.

ENERGY BRIEFS

Insights: 2025 Budget Analysis - Impact on India's Energy Transition

In this must-listen podcast, Srivatsan S from the Office of Global Engagement, IIT Madras, engages in a compelling discussion with Dr. Nikhil Tambe, CEO, The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras, and Prof. Satyanarayanan Seshadri, Head & Faculty-in-Charge, The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras, as they analyze the 2025 Budget’s key energy sector announcements.

With energy now recognized as one of India’s nine national priorities, this budget introduces significant developments that will shape the country’s energy future. Our experts explore the interplay between sustainable growth initiatives, fiscal policies, and the broader goals of India’s energy transition.

This episode provides valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding the future trajectory of India’s energy mission.

Your Guide to Net Zero: Latest Accelerating Net Zero Edition Out Now

The latest edition of Accelerating Net Zero (ANZ) is now available! This publication highlights groundbreaking innovations, strategies, and collaborative efforts driving the global transition toward a net-zero carbon economy.

As the race to net zero accelerates, this issue explores how advancements in clean energy, carbon capture, and sustainable technologies are shaping a more resilient and sustainable future.

WORKSHOP & SYMPOSIA

The International Conference on Energy Conversion & Storage 2025

The International Conference on Energy Conversion & Storage (IECS 2025), organised by The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras from January 27–29, 2025, brought together leading global experts, industry pioneers, and policymakers to discuss advancements in clean energy technologies. The event featured distinguished speakers from across the world, fostering insightful discussions on next-generation batteries, hydrogen innovations, carbon capture, and sustainable energy systems.

The Consul General of South Korea inaugurated the conference, marking a key moment in global energy collaboration. Delegations from South Korea, Japan, and the UK further enriched cross-border dialogue on clean energy advancements. Special highlights included a hands-on electrochemistry workshop, a high-impact Energy Hackathon, and expert-led technical sessions. With groundbreaking ideas and global partnerships, IECS 2025 reinforced the role of IIT Madras in shaping the future of energy transition.

The Energy Consortium at India Energy Week 2025: Driving Net Zero Innovation

The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras participated in India Energy Week 2025 from February 11–14 at Yashobhoomi Convention Center, New Delhi. Our team engaged with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, we showcased cutting-edge solutions for accelerating decarbonization and clean energy transition.

The Carbon Capture Demonstrator, developed by the CCUS group led by Prof. Rajnish Kumar, attracted significant interest, sparking insightful discussions led by Mr Parthiban V and Dr Omkar Kushwaha. Valuable exchanges took place focusing on the evolution of carbon capture technologies and their deployment roadmap.

EDUCATION

Joint MSc Program in Sustainable Energy Systems

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and the University of Birmingham are offering the Joint MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems (AY 2025-2026), designed to equip students with cutting-edge expertise in clean energy transition. The program offers flexibility in choosing study locations, industry placements for hands-on experience, and a year-long research project co-mentored by faculty from both institutions. With a dual-track option after the second semester, students can tailor their learning path to suit their career aspirations.

Beyond technical knowledge, the program fosters a global perspective, cross-cultural learning, and industry collaborations, creating a strong professional network. For more details, contact iitmuob_ses@ge.iitm.ac.in.

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

IIT Madras Excels at GRIDCON 2025

POWERGRID, in collaboration with CIGRE INDIA, successfully hosted GRIDCON2025 from March 9-11, 2025, at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi. The event brought together industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to explore strategies for enhancing the reliability, sustainability, and adaptability of power transmission systems.

A team from IIT Madras and The Energy Consortium – IIT Madras showcased groundbreaking research and innovations, earning top accolades.

Key Achievements

Best Paper by Woman Author: Gayathri Sivaguru for her work on “Fault Detection in Power Grids Using a Digital Twin Framework.”
Second Best Start-Up Award: Gunjan Kapadia for Sthyr Energy Private Limited, co-founded with IIT Madras students.

Research Highlights

Fault Detection in Power Grids Using a Digital Twin Framework – Gayathri Sivaguru, Gaurav Kumar, Rochisnu Dutta, Shanti Swarup.
The V2G Opportunity in India for Future Energy Management and Realizing Smart Grids – Muhammed Firoz MK, Nikhil Tambe, Shanti Swarup.
Sustainable Energy Transition in India Using Econometric and Machine Learning – Yuta Takayanagi, Rochisnu Dutta, K Shanti Swarup, Li Zhidong.
Virtualization of Protection in a Distribution Substation – Bhaskar Sahu, K. Shanti Swarup.
Grid Automation for Self-Healing Using Optimized AGC in Digital Twin Framework – Neha Gupta, Aprajay Verma, Sudipta Saha; Binayak, Jhon Xavier, K Shanti Swarup.

GRIDCON 2025 reinforced IIT Madras and The Energy Consortium’s commitment to pioneering research and technological advancements that drive a secure, efficient, and sustainable energy future.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Energy Consortium - IIT Madras Releases Annual Report 2024

The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras has released its Annual Report 2024, highlighting energy research, industry collaborations, and advancements toward a net-zero future.

The Energy Consortium-IIT Madras collaborates with leading industry partners across sectors, spearheads multi-crore research projects, publishes high-impact studies, and actively contributes to global climate action. By uniting academia, industry, and government, it continues to transform cutting-edge research into real-world energy solutions.

As we move forward, the Energy Consortium remains committed to driving impactful energy solutions that contribute to a secure, efficient, and sustainable future.