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Power and automation multinational ABB has entered into an agreement with Indian Institute of Technology Madras for R&D in microgrids, energy storage and green energy.
Microgrids — decentralised power grids that use renewable energy generation to supply power in remote locations and rural areas — are an emerging field.
Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO, ABB, said microgrids can help provide electricity supply to over 300 million people without access to power in India.
The technology can provide reliable and affordable electricity in rural areas and remote locations.
Energy storageThe collaboration will focus on energy storage — battery technology — and control side of microgrid solutions.
Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, said the objective is to provide a pragmatic solution that will meet a household’s power needs.
IIT-M is in the process of launching a battery engineering laboratory in which ABB will be a partner along with leading corporates.
The agreement with ABB provides collaboration in microgrid technology, energy storage solutions and a large number of internships for IIT students with ABB.
Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, said a key objective will be to bring down cost of power.
Apart from people without access to power, nearly half of those with power supply cannot afford power at ₹5 a unit, which itself is heavily subsidised.
A couple of pilot projects will be established in rural areas as a part of the collaboration with ABB.
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