In a major boost to clean energy research and industrial innovation, under the Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy–2024, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Green Hydrogen jointly by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU). The approval has been granted by the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) following the recommendation of the State-Level Selection Committee.
The Centre of Excellence will be established through a joint collaborative model involving IIT Kanpur and Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU), Kanpur. The Centre will operate from the campus of IIT Kanpur and HBTU Kanpur, jointly with shared infrastructure, laboratories, and equipment. As per the approved framework, the Centre will have Prof. Prabodh Bajpai from the Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering, IIT Kanpur as the Nodal In-charge and Prof. G L Devnani from the Department of Chemical Engineering, HBTU as the Co-In-charge. The facilities developed under the Centre will be jointly utilized by IIT Kanpur and HBTU Kanpur. The projects that will run under this Centre will have leads and co-leads from both IIT Kanpur and HBTU, Kanpur.
The Centre will prioritize research and development focused on green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, safety standards, testing, demonstrations, and industrial use. Special emphasis will be on applied research and technological solutions for industries such as refineries, fertilizers, transportation, manufacturing, and energy systems.
The Centre of Excellence will serve as a common facility hub for engineering colleges, universities, and research institutions across Uttar Pradesh, enabling access to advanced testing, research, and development infrastructure in the green hydrogen domain. The Centre is expected to facilitate incubation of a minimum of 50 startups registered in Uttar Pradesh over five years. These startups will focus on innovation, pilot projects, and the commercialization of green hydrogen technologies.
In addition, the Centre of Excellence will organize training programs, workshops, seminars, technology demonstrations, and capacity-building initiatives for students, researchers, industry professionals, and government stakeholders. These activities aim to strengthen technical skills and create a robust green hydrogen talent ecosystem in the state.
