Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced the ceremony of its hydrogen innovation centre at the Tamil Nadu Investors Conclave 2024, held in 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 expected to be fully operational by 2026 and bears an innate potential to foster the holistic development of the hydrogen ecosystem in India.
The state-of-the-art hydrogen innovation centre will feature the following facilities and focus areas.
- Electrolyzer test rig – Electrolyzer development for the 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 virtual Ground Breaking of the project was done by MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of Dr T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, Arun Roy (IAS), Industries Secretary, Vishnu (IAS), Guidance MD, Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer – Hyundai Motor India Limited, and others.
Speaking on the announcement, 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 the Tamil Nadu government’s vision of building a sustainable ecosystem for the transition towards alternate fuels. We are hopeful the upcoming hydrogen innovation centre will accelerate hydrogen mobility adoption in Tamil Nadu.”
He added, “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.”
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 honoured to partner with Hyundai Motor India Limited and Guidance Tamil Nadu, to develop a dedicated research facility which we envisage, will create breakthrough 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.
