Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government and IIT Bhubaneswar have signed an MoU to establish a Centre for Renewable Energy Research and Studies (CRRS) on the institute’s campus, in a move aimed at strengthening research, innovation and adoption of clean-energy technologies in the state.
The MoU was signed between GRIDCO Limited and IIT Bhubaneswar. The initiative follows the collaboration between the two institutions in July 2025 to promote renewable energy research and development and facilitate the commercialisation and adoption of renewable energy technologies in Odisha.
The proposed centre will be developed under the Odisha Renewable Energy Policy (OREP) 2022 and will bring together academia, the power sector, industry and the government on a common platform for advanced research, technology demonstration, capacity building and policy support in the renewable energy sector.
GRIDCO Limited will act as the implementing agency on behalf of the state Energy Department, while IIT Bhubaneswar will serve as the host and academic partner.
As part of the collaboration, IIT Bhubaneswar will provide infrastructure, laboratories, academic resources and research expertise. GRIDCO, meanwhile, will facilitate funding, government coordination and industry linkages.
The CRRS is proposed to have a central research laboratory, testing and certification facilities, pilot demonstration plants, a training centre and a renewable energy data centre for resource assessment and forecasting.
The centre will focus on several emerging and strategic areas, including solar and wind energy, green hydrogen, energy storage, smart grids, renewable energy integration, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, alternative energy generation, advanced materials and sustainable battery systems.
The facility will also seek additional research support through government schemes, international agencies, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and industry partnerships.
IIT Bhubaneswar Director Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar said the CRRS would create a strong bridge between cutting-edge research and real-world energy challenges.
GRIDCO Limited Managing Director Satyapriya Rath said the centre would strengthen Odisha’s capacity to develop and adopt renewable energy solutions through a research-driven approach.
