IIT Madras has developed cost effective Green Technology solutions in the building, transport and Solar-DC space. These were either incubated at IIT or developed by companies such as Amara Raja Electronics and Lucas TVS in collaboration with it.

IIT’s focus is on decentralised use of solar power for homes and buildings. Along with IIT Madras Research Park, it has set up solar DC systems that generate power using solar photovoltaics, that is stored in a battery and connected to grid whenever available, thus minimising associated losses. Green homes and green transport help save energy in the long run, said Ashok Jhunjhunwala, co-chairman and faculty-in-charge, IIT Madras Incubation Cell.

Companies such as Cygni Energy Pvt Ltd and Swadha Energies, incubated at the IIT Madras, have commercially taken up green innovations, he said at a function in which Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated various green technology innovations by IIT Madras.

IIT and Swadha Energies have come up with a green building cooling distribution system with integrated chilled-water flow controller and BTU meters (to measure thermal energy) and sensors integrated management system. This could save nearly 50 per cent of power. IIT Madras Research Park has come up with a concept of chilling water during night time for use during peak air-conditioning requirement during day time, said Jhunjhunwala.

Goyal said the cooling distribution system developed at IIT could be a game changing technology with the whole world grappling with environment concerns. One of the biggest challenges facing the world is hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) free cooling systems that power air-conditioners at homes and buildings.

The world is keen and concerned that India move towards HFC-free AC systems. “It has always been my grouse that developed world develops technologies and solutions to various problems but in private sector and patents it. They want to make profit from patents and technological innovations at the cost of protecting environment,” said Goyal, who holds independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines. It is time the world comes together on a common platform for innovations. If there is a development cost, nations pay for it from a central pool and let good technologies flow freely to everyone. Why should HFC-free AC technology be in the hands of two American companies that charge heavily and make air-conditioning expensive to make it HFC free, Goyal asked.

Green corridor Addressing newpersons on the sidelines of a meeting at IIT Madras, Goyal said expanding the green corridor (power transmission corridor for renewable power) is an important mission for the Centre. He was responding to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a dedicated transmission capacity for wind power.

Goyal said he recently held discussions with the Karnataka Government to expand transmission capacity in south India.

Goyal also met Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat in the evening but declined to give details to newspersons.

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