MIT World Peace University announces Hydrogen Research Centre in Collaboration with TERRE Policy Centre

New Delhi: Within two months of the announcement of the National Hydrogen Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MIT-World Peace University (MIT-WPU) under the overall guidance of TERRE Policy Centre released the road map for the establishment of an on-campus Hydrogen Research Centre. “It is our humble contribution to our Prime Minister’s unprecedented efforts to make the country free from fossil fuel,” said Shri. Rahul V. Karad, Managing Trustee & Executive President, MAEER’s MIT and Executive President, MIT-WPU .

“University students represent the strong fundamentals of the future that lead to Sustainable Development and a climate-friendly world,” said Dr Rajendra Shende, Chairman of TERRE Policy Centre, former Director of UNEP and IIT Alumnus. “Our flagship network of Universities -Smart Campus Cloud Network-of which MIT-WPU is a leading member would get inspiration from this initiative to accelerate the hydrogen economy,” he added.

India has forged a partnership with Norway to bring upon a revolution in commercializing Clean and Climate-friendly energy solutions through Hydrogen Energy. The announcement of the Centre came up during the high-level interaction at the conference held at MIT-WPU on ‘Our Common Future in Clean Energy: Hydrogen-Economy’. The guest of honour for the conference was H.E. Hans Jacob Frydenlund, Ambassador, of Norway to India and the chief guest was Mr. Erik Solheim, Former Under-Secretary-General, UN, Former Executive – Director, UNEP. Other dignitaries who were also part of the conclave were Mr. Arne Jan Flølo, Consul General, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Dr. Ravi Kumar Chitnis, Vice Chancellor-In-Charge, MIT-WPU, Mr. Pravin Patil, Senior Director – CIAP, MIT-WPU, Dr. Prasad Khandekar, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, MIT-WPU, and Dr. Milind Pande, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, MIT-WPU.

Rev. Prof. Dr Vishwanath Karad, Founder & Chief Patron, MAEER’s MIT, Pune & President, MIT-WPU, felicitated the guests of honour. He said, “Clean Energy, Sustainable Development and peace are interlinked.” He added that India’s spiritual past has strengthened this link.

Speaking on this path-breaking initiative, H.E. Hans Jacob Frydenlund, said, “It is an honour to be present at the event where MIT-WPU has taken a key strategic decision to focus on a hydrogen-fuelled economy. To support India and the Network of the Universities of TERRE in this front-liner and futuristic mission, Norway would offer its cooperation. As a part of the Indian and Norway’s collaboration, Norway will be working with India in the areas of climate, environment, clean energy, and the ocean. In the launching of the National Hydrogen Mission, India has shown great foresight. Additionally, through the hydrogen economy, we aim to provide green jobs and use green transformation to create a green economy for the nation.”

Elaborating further on the initiative, Mr. Erik Solheim, said, “Hydrogen-energy is one of the most sustainable and cleaner energy, that will ensure meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. This partnership is an important milestone as it will utilize the research potential of universities and accelerate our march towards a clean future.”

Highlighting that hydrogen energy would be the game-changer, the event emphasized that Hydrogen, in its green, grey and blue form can be utilized to produce electricity and can be used in fuel cells. It can also be used in a number of other hydride products which can be ultimately used to produce energy.

Sharing his crucial observations, Dr. Prasad Khandekar said, “This collaboration provides an opportunity for our university to contribute to a noble cause as well as drive our economy from an oil-driven one to a hydrogen-powered one. With the research talents at MIT-WPU, we will take steps to contribute to the hydrogen economy. I’m proud that by utilising a transdisciplinary approach and with the help of around 18,000 students and 700 faculty members from various MIT-WPU programs, we, under the guidance of TERRE Policy Centre, would contribute towards transforming our common future.”

MIT-WPU is dedicated to carrying out the activities related to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) under Smart Campus Cloud Network ( SCCN) and in partnership with Norway, it is poised to begin the march towards a hydrogen-fuelled economy. Generating energy from hydrogen is cited as the most needed change to lessen fossil fuel dependency and air pollution and achieve carbon neutrality as suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a matter of urgency.

Emphasizing the significance of this collaboration, Dr. Milind Pande said, “Hydrogen is one of the most sustainable clean energies and this conference was held to signify the duty of developing clean energy with extensive research and modernized technology, carried out by MIT-WPU. We will be the major part of the Hydrogen Economy Research Network of HEIs and take part in every activity organized by the National Centre of Excellence on Hydrogen (CoE-H). The centre at MIT-WPU would make its contributions to national CoE-H.”

MIT-WPU as a part of the SCCN is engaged in localizing the SDGs in their campuses. The university has also taken the pledge of Carbon Neutrality, titled ‘Not Zero-Net-Zero’. This partnership between the Norwegian and Indian Universities encourages the youth to take part in the mission and become stakeholders in carbon neutrality and Hydrogen-driven transformation.

The Centre at MIT-WPU campus will be able to contribute to developing cost-efficient and sustainable technological solutions. The institute will also act as a facilitator towards developing codes and standards for best industrial practices, safety, product protocols, and regulations in the area of hydrogen and fuel cells.