Gorakhpur: In a significant boost to India’s clean-energy research ecosystem, Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology (MMMUT), Gorakhpur, has received a ₹50-crore grant from the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) to set up a Centre of Excellence on Green Hydrogen. The proposal, originally submitted in August 2024, was approved following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation at UPNEDA headquarters, reports The Times of India.
The new Centre will operate on a hub-and-spoke model in partnership with IIT-BHU, which will serve as the technical mentor. Prof. Vitthal L. Gole from MMMUT’s Chemical Engineering Department and Dr. Preetam Singh from IIT-BHU’s Ceramic Engineering Department have been appointed as coordinators. Six faculty members from MMMUT’s Chemistry, Chemical, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering departments will act as co-coordinators.
Research at the Centre will focus on two key domains: Green Hydrogen production from biomass and hydrogen generation through electrolyzers, with a stronger emphasis on biomass-based synthesis.
Beyond research, the Centre aims to be a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship. It will support at least 10 startups in the initial phase, offering funding of ₹25 lakh each, and plans to incubate 50 startups over the next decade. The Centre will also help develop skilled manpower for polytechnics, ITIs and other institutions, and conduct feasibility studies for operating Green Hydrogen-powered buses and trains on the Gorakhpur–Varanasi corridor.
Congratulating the research team, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jai Prakash Saini expressed gratitude to Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and ACS (Technical Education) and UPNEDA Chairman Narendra Bhushan for their support in advancing the state’s green-energy mission.
