An MoU between Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Hyundai Motor India Limited and Guidance Tamil Nadu, for establishing a‘Hydrogen Valley Innovation Hub’, was signed during the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 held in Chennai on Sunday (7th Jan 2024) in the presence of Dr TRB Rajaa, Honourable Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Govt of Tamil Nadu. This initiative aims to promote a green hydrogen ecosystem in the country.

IIT Madras is the Nodal agency for establishing the hub and has special focus on localization of manufacturing, skill development, creation of validation platforms, roadmap and landscape analysis for the hydrogen ecosystem.

The Hydrogen Valley Innovation Hub project, with a total project cost of INR. 180 Cr, will be established with the investment of INR. 100 Cr. by HMIL towards its capex requirements.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Unsoo Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “The goal is to help foster a worldwide Hydrogen Society by making hydrogen readily used for everyone, everything and everywhere. As part of this, we are collaborating with the Government of Tamil Nadu and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a dedicated Hydrogen Resource Centre in association with IIT Madras. This facility will act as an incubation cell to develop a framework for localisation of a hydrogen ecosystem. This initaitive is also expected to generate employment and support skill development in the region. We are confident that these concerted efforts, combining the involvement of industry cohorts with their respective enterprises, will help drive Tamil Nadu to become a one trillion economy.”

IIT Madras will take up the responsibility for creating the Hydrogen Valley Innovation Hub at IIT Madras Campus including land, building infrastructure, and R&D infrastructure. The Institute will also develop a curriculum and body of knowledge for skill development, while operating and maintaining the Hydrogen Valley.

Speaking about this project, Prof. V.Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said,“As our country has set definite targets towards meeting the sustainable development goals, using non-fossil fuel is of great significance. In this direction, a consortium coordinated by IIT Madras is setting up a Hydrogen Valley project. This funding from Hyundai has come at an extremely appropriate time and certainly shall help in the rapid growth of this Consortium. I am sure in the years to come; this Consortium will provide feasible solutions towards substitution of non-fossil fuels by green hydrogen.”

Guidance Tamil Nadu, the investment promotion agency of the Government of Tamil Nadu, will also be a key player, supporting via policy advocacy on hydrogen-related technologies and Standards/regulations development.

The Institute will also establish a Centre of Excellence that will play the role of a Think tank and conduct annual conferences, and workshops besides publishing research papers. This project willnot only give India’s green hydrogen goals a push but will also inculcate knowledge sharing, creation of R&D infrastructure and enable skill development in young people.

BACKGROUND ON HYDROGEN VALLEY INNOVATION HUB

The proposed Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster in Tamil Nadu (HVIC-TN) is an entity comprising of stakeholders from more than 20 companies working in the hydrogen sector besides investors, consulates, IIT Madras, IIT Madras Research Park, Guidance Tamil Nadu, and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation.

The HVIC-TN is planned to cater to the needs of green hydrogen ambitions of the country by providing technological solutions, support on R&D, skill development, infrastructure building, technoeconomic feasibility and policy/regulatory recommendations. It will act as a platform for stakeholders in the hydrogen sector to network and enable the green hydrogen adoption and transition faster.

 

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