IIT Kanpur Establishes Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering

IIT Kanpur has established a ‘Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering’ with an aim of becoming a vital contributor to the nation’s growing clean and renewable energy sector

IIT Kanpur has announced that it has established a ‘Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering’ with an aim of becoming a vital contributor to the nation’s growing clean and renewable energy sector by generating high-quality scientific and technological know-how and human resources. The Board of Governors of IIT Kanpur has accorded its approval in a meeting held on December 7, 2020, as informed by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur.

The objectives of Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering (DSEE) are in alignment with various schemes, initiatives and objectives of @mnreindia@EduMinOfIndia @karandi65 @IITKanpur #technicaleducation, #sustainableenergyhttps://t.co/yzhnAej5I0

— Ministry of Renewable Energy (MNRE) (@mnreindia) December 8, 2020

Dr. K Radhakrishnan, Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Kanpur said that starting an academic department in this area is a vital initiative serving the educational and technology development related needs of the country. 

Prof. Karandikar mentioned that this initiative comes at an opportune time when the Indian government has committed to source at least 40 percent of its energy requirement from clean and renewable energy sources by 2030, as pledged in the Paris Agreement. He also said that the new department also aims to contribute to India’s bid to become a global leader in the widespread adoption of sustainable energy technologies impacting a variety of sectors such as electricity and transportation.

In consonance with above mentioned national aspirations, the new department envisions to develop high-quality academic programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Prof. Karandikar said that the new department’s academic programmes shall aim to provide multiple skill-sets to its students, with relevant courses from core engineering disciplines blended with sciences and humanities. The curriculum will train the students to become well-rounded energy engineers who will become assets to the industry as well as academia and research organizations.

Furthermore, it will engage in cutting-edge research in frontier and futuristic areas related to energy sustainability with a clear focus on new, renewable and alternate energy technologies.

“The Department’s research will be classified under four major verticals of energy capture and generation, energy storage and distribution, alternative fuels as well as energy, environment and policy,” Prof. Karandikar said. Further adding that “the new department will also emphasise on the translation of its research outcomes into indigenous technology development, prototyping and commercialization, in alignment with Indian government’s flagship programmes such as Make in India, Skill India, Swachchha Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Prof. Ashish Garg, who is coordinating the efforts related to the new Department, said that “the current research focus of the new department will be on energy generation via solar, wind and other clean resources; batteries and super capacitors; energy storage and distribution; smart grids; carbon capture; clean alternative fuels; waste-to-energy; clean water; and energy policy and economics. The research portfolio will further expand into new areas as the department grows and matures.

The department will also mobilise economic resources to build state-of-the-art laboratories necessary for successful implementation of educational and research programs and will tie-up with various government and non-governmental organizations.