Chennai: IIT-Madras has joined hands with ABB, Swiss Automation Company, to electrify villages and to build a lab for battery engineering research. Both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding here on Tuesday for technical cooperation to build microgrids and support battery engineering research to improve storage. They will jointly work to design, build and supply equipment for up to two microgrids in rural areas.
The microgrid will enable homes to be fitted with energy efficient DC devices like LED bulbs, TV, cell phone chargers, brushless DC motor-based fans designed by IIT-M. “Still there are 300 million Indians without power. It is both a challenge and an opportunity,” said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT-M.
“IIT-Madras used its solar-DC technology to power 4000 off-grid homes in Rajasthan. These homes are located at places where vehicles cannot travel and material, including solar panels and batteries are transported on camels and tractors,” he said.
ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer said, “Our research and development collaboration is for prosperity of India and to develop globally applicable technology. The research work on microgrids is to make sure renewable energy available for 24 hours with right kind of storage.We can also provide technologies like long distance power transmission for electrification of rural India. We bring our technological knowledge and experience, you bring young and motivated minds,” he said.
ABB’s YuMi robot was also displayed at the event. It is the first time that a collaborative robot is displayed at the Indian educational institution. This robot can be employed in industries where precision is required. It can work side by side with humans while ensuring safety of those around it. At the display, it clicked selfies for the audience.
