CEA and IIT Roorkee Join Forces to Advance India’s Energy Transition Goals

In a significant step toward bolstering India’s clean energy goals and modernizing the power sector, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Ministry of Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee. The MoU, signed on 1st July 2025, marks the beginning of a strategic academic-industry partnership aimed at enhancing knowledge, building capacity, and fostering cutting-edge research in energy systems, clean technologies, and sustainable development.

The agreement was formalized by Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of CEA, and Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, in the presence of Members (Planning, Hydro, Grid Operation & Distribution), the Chief Engineer (ET&I), Secretary, CEA, and senior faculty members from IIT Roorkee.

Vision Behind the MoU: Empowering India’s Energy Transformation

As India works steadily towards its net-zero emissions target by 2070, the need for collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and policy-relevant technical solutions has never been greater. The MoU will serve as a key enabler in:

• Bridging academic research with sectoral needs

• Enhancing real-world technical capacity of government officials

• Strengthening research in renewables, storage, and digital grid systems

• Accelerating policy and regulatory interventions through data-driven studies

The partnership also aligns with India's goals under Mission Innovation, National Hydrogen Mission, and the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

Key Objectives of the CEA–IIT Roorkee Collaboration

1. Capacity Building

   • CEA engineers and technical personnel will gain access to short-term courses, executive training, and project-based learning through IIT Roorkee.

   • IIT Roorkee’s online course modules, including MOOCs and specialized training in emerging energy domains, will be available to CEA staff.

2. Collaborative Research

   • The institutions will conduct joint research projects, pilot studies, and field experiments on high-priority challenges in India’s power and energy system.

   • Projects will include both grid-connected and decentralized power systems.

3. Sustainable Development

   • Promote R&D in areas such as decarbonization, just transition frameworks, circular economy practices, and water neutrality in thermal power plants.

   • Address regional disparities in energy access and environmental resilience.

4. Support to Policy and Regulatory Frameworks

   • Research outcomes will contribute to policy planning, the development of codes and standards, and technical inputs for regulatory decisions.

Areas of Focus: A Multidisciplinary Approach

The collaboration covers a wide spectrum of thematic areas, reflecting India’s evolving energy challenges and opportunities:

Renewable Energy & Storage

• Integration of solar, wind, and hybrid systems into the national grid.

• Flexibility assessment and management of variable renewable power.

• Energy storage systems, including battery technologies and pumped hydro.

Hydropower and Pumped Storage

• Optimization of existing hydro capacity and development of new pumped storage sites for grid balancing.

Green Hydrogen & Emerging Technologies

• Collaborative research on green hydrogen production, storage, and utilization.

• Assessment of biomass co-firing, geothermal potential, and e-mobility infrastructure.

Electric Vehicles & Recycling Standards

• Development of technical standards and protocols for EV charging, battery second-life applications, and recycling frameworks.

Environmental Sustainability

• Emission inventories, pollution mapping, and climate risk assessments for critical infrastructure.

• Tools for low-carbon planning, including demand forecasting models and air quality modeling.

Reliability & Power Quality

• Investigations into power outages, harmonic distortions, and voltage stability issues to support DISCOMs and grid operators.

Data and Infrastructure Sharing

The MoU also facilitates the sharing of data, tools, labs, and technical infrastructure between the two organizations, with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and intellectual property rights. This will allow seamless translation of research into action, enhancing evidence-based policymaking in the sector.

Strategic Implications for India's Power Sector

This partnership represents a model template for government-academia collaboration, creating a feedback loop between research, practice, and policy. It underscores the government's focus on innovation-led governance and recognizes the central role of scientific institutions in meeting energy security, sustainability, and economic development goals.

By partnering with IIT Roorkee, one of India’s premier technical institutions, the Ministry of Power and CEA aim to nurture the next generation of energy leaders, build resilient infrastructure, and decarbonize India’s power grid while maintaining affordability and access.

A Catalyst for Change

As India stands on the cusp of an energy revolution, the MoU between CEA and IIT Roorkee sends a strong message about the importance of partnerships, innovation, and capacity building. With shared vision and coordinated action, the two institutions are set to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s sustainable energy future.