IITM Research Park Launches 1MWh Battery Storage System

On August 5, 2024, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) research park launched the first-of-its-kind large-scale 1MWh lithium-ion battery storage system. The launch was done in the presence of Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico. The storage system, designed and developed by the Center for Excellence in Energy & Telecommunications (CEET) is  part of IITM research park’s 10x initiative towards 100 per cent renewable energy.

The launch was followed by a round-table discussion, joined by Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services (Tamil Nadu), with select delegates across industry, startups and academia. The discussion focused on climate change and renewable energy to devise strategies in co-developing technologies. 

Industry leaders and startups from the research park, along with professors from IIT Madras  and subject matter experts shared expertise on subjects like sustainable heating and cooling, large storage batteries, hydrogen, solar, wind energy, sustainability, recycling, and cybersecurity for energy systems among others.

Speaking on the occasion of launch, the Governor of New Mexico said, “We are moving as quickly and fiercely away from fossil fuels. We are in the technological race to the top in the transition.” 

This partnership aims to ensure we are leaning to carbon capture and sequestration as well as demonstrate that we can accelerate opportunities for the private sector and education in the context of exchange, he added.

The Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services of Tamil Nadu noted, “There is huge potential for offshore wind in Tamil Nadu due to its extensive coastline. The government is working on policy, regulations, incentives, and infrastructure to facilitate improvements.” 

He further added that, IIT Madras and the IIT Madras Research Park as vital assets across domains for attracting investments, fostering innovation, and adding value through the exchange of ideas. 

The ready-to-deploy and modular battery storage system, is first in India for a stationary storage system in a building campus. Once fully operational, the energy storage system would be field with wind and solar energy. Thus, taking the campus’s renewable energy share to 90 per cent. This will serve as a model for commercial complexes, and manufacturing units aiming to transition to entirely green energy while remaining profitable.