BITS Pilani, on Jan 28 inaugurated an Advanced Research Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies (ARCSET), a multi-campus Centre of Excellence focused on advancing clean energy solutions. Additionally, ARCSET will concentrate on key verticals like Hydrogen Production, Storage and Utilization, Biofuels, Renewable and Alternative Energy and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). This novel initiative is designed to accommodate innovative thinking and collaboration into clean energy technologies and solutions.
ARCSET is established as a Centre of Excellence to foster research and industry-academic collaboration. The centre’s goal is to provide scalable and affordable solutions to carbon emissions, improve energy security, and ensure equitable access to sustainable energy resources. Through numerous initiatives, it seeks to encourage sustainable, greener technologies and breakthroughs in India and globally.
The occasion was graced by Padma Bhushan Prof. J. B. Joshi, Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, who was the chief guest. Dr. Madhukar Garg, former Director of the Indian Institute of Petroleum and President of R&D Petrochemicals at Reliance Industries Limited, served as Guest of Honour. Prof. R. R. Sonde, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Chemical Engineering, shared the vision of ARCSET, with a focus on its potential to develop scalable technologies for channelling global energy challenges. The centre was championed by Prof Suman Kundu, Director, BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus who described ARCSET “as yet another diamond in the jewel crown of BITS Pilani in the Diamond Jubilee Year”.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, said, “ARCSET embodies our dedication to tackling one of the major challenges of our times – global transformation towards sustainable energy. We are driving capacity building and advanced research with industry collaboration to enable these solutions that not only reduce carbon emissions but also ensure equitable access to clean energy resources”.
As a result of this centre, BITS Pilani is working on a technology platform that combines advanced tools, innovative processes, and skilled human resources to tackle some of India’s most pressing challenges. This center of excellence is focusing on eight key areas, including renewable energy, hydrogen, e-mobility, and the circular economy, and is partnering with industry leaders, start-ups, and policymakers to develop effective solutions. By utilizing techniques such as molecular modelling, AI-ML, and high-throughput experiments, projects like the Hydrogen Valley and research on CO+-to-methanol and water electrolysis are paving the way for scalable and sustainable advancements. These initiatives will enhance collaborations between academia, industry, and start-ups, accelerating India’s journey towards net-zero emissions.
