Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced the Groundbreaking Ceremony of its hydrogen innovation centre at the Tamil Nadu Investors Conclave 2024, held at Chennai. This new facility is being developed through a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Guidance Tamil Nadu, with the support of the State Government of Tamil Nadu. The hydrogen innovation centre is poised to serve as a catalyst for innovation in the field of hydrogen technology.
The virtual Ground Breaking of the project was done by Thiru M. K. Stalin, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of Dr. T R B Rajaa, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Arun Roy (IAS), Industries Secretary, Mr. Vishnu (IAS), Guidance MD, Mr. Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer – Hyundai Motor India Limited, and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director – Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), senior officials from Guidance Tamil Nadu, and other senior state government officials.
Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO), HMIL, said, “Hyundai Motor India Limited remains committed to being a strategic partner in Tamil Nadu government’s vision of building a sustainable ecosystem for transition towards alternate fuels. We are hopeful the upcoming hydrogen innovation centre will accelerate hydrogen mobility adoption in Tamil Nadu. HMIL will be investing towards facility construction at the IIT Madras Thaiyur campus in Chennai. In line with our global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’, this facility will serve as a key enabler to advance hydrogen as an eco-friendly, emission-less future source of propulsion for mass-mobility solutions.”
The hydrogen innovation centre will be spread across 65,000 sq. ft. within the IIT Madras, Thaiyur campus, located on the outskirts of Chennai.
Commenting on this strategic partnership, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director – IITM said, “IIT Madras has continued to be the forerunner in India’s transformation into a technology and innovation superpower. Furthering this journey, the Institute is honored to partner with Hyundai Motor India Limited and Guidance Tamil Nadu, to develop a dedicated research facility which we envisage, will create break-through innovations in the field of hydrogen mobility. The hydrogen innovation centre will serve as a catalyst for hydrogen technology innovations, creating a robust ecosystem for start-ups and researchers.”
The partnership aims to accelerate hydrogen ecosystem development and adoption in Tamil Nadu, and the rest of the nation. The upcoming hydrogen innovation centre by Hyundai Motor India Limited, IIT Madras and Guidance Tamil Nadu, is in line with HMIL’s goal of strengthening Tamil Nadu as a hub of automotive innovation and furthering a shared vision of introducing advancements in alternate fuels. This will be an effective measure to reduce Tamil Nadu’s carbon footprint, and HMIL is positive this partnership will also play a crucial role in developing a skilled workforce for the emerging hydrogen economy.
The state-of-the-art hydrogen innovation centre will feature the following facilities and focus areas.
- Electrolyzer test rig – Electrolyzer development for generation of green hydrogen
- Electrolyzer / Fuel cell fabrication line – Localization of manufacturing and supply chain
- Fuel cell test station
- Operational & Diagnostic Digital Twin for Hydrogen Infrastructure
- Pilot demonstrators using electrolyzers and fuel cells
- Hydrogen refuelling station – for hydrogen mobility research
The hydrogen innovation centre is expected to be fully operational by 2026, and bears an innate potential to foster holistic development of hydrogen ecosystem in India.
