Coal India aims to generate indigenous solutions that ensure energy security, decarbonization, and socioeconomic progress
CHENNAI (India CSR): In a pivotal stride toward decarbonizing India’s energy sector, Coal India Limited (CIL) has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to establish the Centre for Sustainable Energy. Signed on October 22, this MoU heralds a transformative era, redirecting coal’s legacy into green innovation to meet the nation’s 2070 net-zero target.
Coal India Limited (CIL) is an Indian state-owned coal mining company and the single largest coal producer in the world. Founded in 1975, it is a “Maharatna” public sector undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India.
At its core, the Centre will pioneer solutions like repurposing abandoned mines into eco-assets, advancing low-emission tech, and converting coal into clean energy feedstocks. This bold pivot challenges India’s coal reliance, blending fossil expertise with renewable R&D for energy security and climate resilience.
Partnership unveiled
The MoU was inked by CIL’s Director (Technical) Achyut Ghatak and IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, under the watchful eyes of CIL Chairman P.M. Prasad and senior executives. Funded by CIL to align with its diversification blueprint, the Centre at IIT Madras will hub cutting-edge research and training in sustainable tech.
This collaboration fuses CIL’s operational scale – as the world’s largest coal producer – with IIT Madras’s academic firepower, fostering indigenous breakthroughs over imported fixes.
Core innovations
Focus areas include mine rehabilitation for biodiversity and renewables, low-carbon extraction methods, and coal’s role in hydrogen or biofuel production. By reimagining coal as a circular resource, the initiative tackles emissions while safeguarding jobs in coal belts like Jharkhand and Odisha.
The Centre’s R&D pipeline promises scalable pilots, from carbon capture pilots to AI-optimized energy grids, accelerating India’s Paris Agreement pledges amid COP30 pressures.
Leadership insights
“This marks Coal India’s evolution from energy supplier to green enabler,” stated Shri P.M. Prasad. “Partnering with IIT Madras, we’ll craft homegrown solutions for secure, low-carbon growth and inclusive progress.”
V. Kamakoti added, “Industry-academia ties like this anchor IIT Madras’s low-carbon mission. We’ll co-create impactful tech for a sustainable India.”
Talent pipeline
Beyond tech, the Centre commits to skilling: Ph.D. slots, postdocs, and internships to train 100+ experts yearly. This addresses the green skills gap, empowering youth from coal communities to lead in solar, wind, and storage sectors.
Global ripple
As extreme weather bites – from floods to heatwaves – this alliance spotlights proactive policy. It could cut CIL’s emissions by 20% via innovations, per early models, while boosting GDP through green exports.
India’s coal paradox – 70% power from it, yet net-zero vows – finds a fix here. With $500 crore CIL backing, the Centre launches pilots by mid-2026, eyeing global benchmarks.
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