Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) through a strategic partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) and Guidance Tamil Nadu with the support of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, will be setting up its hydrogen innovation centre within the IIT Madras, Thaiyur campus, located on the outskirts of Chennai. This was announced at the Tamil Nadu Investors Conclave 2024, held at Chennai on Aug 21.
The 65,000 sq. ft. hydrogen innovation centre expected to be fully operational by 2026, is poised serve as a catalyst for innovation in the field of hydrogen technology. It bears an innate potential to foster holistic development of hydrogen ecosystem in India.
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin laid the foundation of the centre through a virtual Ground Breaking of the project in the presence of Dr. T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, Arun Roy (IAS), Industries Secretary, Vishnu (IAS), Guidance MD, Mr. Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer – Hyundai Motor India Limited, senior officials from Guidance Tamil Nadu, and other senior State Government officials. The partnership aims to accelerate hydrogen ecosystem development and adoption in Tamil Nadu, and the rest of the nation. The upcoming hydrogen innovation centre by Hyundai Motor India Limited, IIT Madras and Guidance Tamil Nadu, is in line with HMIL’s goal of strengthening Tamil Nadu as a hub of automotive innovation and furthering a shared vision of introducing advancements in alternate fuels.
This will be an effective measure to reduce Tamil Nadu’s carbon footprint, and HMIL is positive this partnership will also play a crucial role in developing a skilled workforce for the emerging hydrogen economy.
Speaking on the announcement, Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO), HMIL, said, “HMIL will be investing INR 100 Crores towards facility construction at the IIT Madras Thaiyur campus in Chennai. In line with our global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’, this facility will serve as a key enabler to advance hydrogen as an eco-friendly, emission-less future source of propulsion for mass-mobility solutions.”
Commenting on this strategic partnership, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “the Institute is honored to partner with Hyundai Motor India Limited and Guidance Tamil Nadu, to develop a dedicated research facility which we envisage, will create break-through innovations in the field of hydrogen mobility. The hydrogen innovation centre will serve as a catalyst for hydrogen technology innovations, creating a robust ecosystem for start-ups and researchers.”
The propsoed hydrogen innovation centre will feature the following facilities and focus areas.
- Electrolyzer test rig – Electrolyzer development for generation of green hydrogen
- Electrolyzer / Fuel cell fabrication line – Localization of manufacturing and supply chain
- Fuel cell test station
- Operational and diagnostic Digital Twin for hydrogen infrastructure
- Pilot demonstrators using electrolyzers and fuel cells
- Hydrogen refuelling station – for hydrogen mobility research
