(Photo: MoU Signing Ceremony at IIT Delhi)

New Delhi: THDC India Limited (THDCIL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise, and IIT Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) forging a collaborative partnership dedicated to advancing research and development activities in Science, Engineering, and Technology.

Sh. S. K. Chauhan, HoD (R&D) from THDCIL, and Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi, signed the MoU on October 12, 2023. The agreement is set to span five years.

According to the MoU, THDCIL will partner with IIT Delhi to conduct research studies, pilot projects, and consulting engagements led by faculty members. While elaborating on the pivotal areas of collaboration envisioned in the MoU, Sh. R. K. Vishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director, THDC India Limited, said the THDCIL will actively reach out to IIT Delhi to initiate collaborative projects and engage with research groups within the institution.

These collaborative efforts will encompass a broad spectrum of research domains, including but not limited to energy conservation, alternatives to lithium-ion storage batteries, nanotechnology for electric vehicle batteries, green hydrogen, geothermal technology, climate change issues, waste management/recycling, water management/conservation, vortex-induced vibrations, tunnelling techniques, biofuels, grid stability improvements, and various other pertinent fields.

“THDCIL has committed to providing comprehensive financial support for operational expenses and the cost of research and development activities. This support will empower IIT Delhi to continuously undertake R&D projects on mutually agreed terms, cementing their role as a knowledge partner in collaborative research efforts”, Sh. R. K. Vishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director, THDC India Limited, said.

According to the MoU, IIT Delhi will offer essential infrastructural support and access to scientific, engineering, and technical expertise. These resources will be instrumental in facilitating R&D activities, aligning with the academic pursuits of the institute.

Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi, expressed his sincere thanks to THDCIL management for having faith and trust in IIT Delhi’s scientific and engineering capabilities in this domain and extending financial support for commissioning projects in the areas of batteries, communications and applications robots, etc. In the future, IIT Delhi will also cover many more areas, if needed by the THDCIL.

In a bid to fortify the impact of this partnership, IIT Delhi, with the backing of THDCIL, will leverage its expertise to engage with national and international agencies. This engagement is aimed at both basic and translational research solutions. Additionally, the institute will involve more faculty members from relevant disciplines and disseminate the collaborative activities effectively.

This collaborative venture between THDCIL and IIT Delhi represents a significant step forward in the fields of research, innovation, and technological advancement, with the potential to yield ground-breaking solutions for various industries and domains, the THDCIL CMD stated.

THDCIL is one of the premier power generators in the country with an installed capacity of 1587 MW, with commissioning of Tehri Dam and HPP (1000 MW), Koteshwar HEP (400 MW) in Uttarakhand, wind power projects of 50 MW at Patan and 63 MW at Dwarka in Gujarat, the 24 MW Dhukwan Small Hydro Project in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and the 50 MW Solar Power Project at Kasaragod, Kerala, to its credit.

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Press Release Issued on October 19, 2023