Avaada Group, GRIDCO and IIT Bhubaneswar to Set Up Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence in Odisha

Bhubaneswar / New Delhi, December 9, 2025 — India’s green hydrogen ambitions received a significant boost as Avaada Group, the Grid Corporation of Odisha (GRIDCO), and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar have formalized plans to establish a Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence (CoE) in Odisha. This center will serve as a dedicated hub for research, innovation, and technology development across the green hydrogen value chain.

Objectives of the Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence

The proposed Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence in Odisha will focus on several key areas:

• End-to-end green hydrogen research: The CoE will investigate the production, storage, transport, and utilization of green hydrogen and its derivatives, emphasizing real-world deployment over lab-scale experiments.
• Application-focused R&D: Priority themes will include energy storage, industrial decarbonization (for sectors such as steel, chemicals, and fertilizers), and clean mobility, particularly in heavy transport, which is challenging to electrify directly.
• Techno-economic analysis: The center will analyze cost curves, business models, and the bankability of emerging hydrogen technologies, aiding policymakers and investors in identifying commercially viable pathways.

The center is expected to be part of a network of hydrogen R&D hubs developed under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has allocated approximately ₹400 crore for research and development activities, including Centers of Excellence, to accelerate India’s hydrogen innovation ecosystem.

Roles of Avaada Group, GRIDCO, and IIT Bhubaneswar

The collaboration is structured to ensure that industry, academia, and the state play complementary roles:

Avaada Group: Industry Anchor and R&D Extension Site

Avaada Group, a diversified clean-energy conglomerate with interests in solar, wind, battery storage, and green fuels, will serve as the industry anchor for the CoE. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):

• Avaada will establish a dedicated extension facility of the CoE within its production complex in Odisha.
• This facility will house specialized technical teams, pilot-scale equipment, and testing infrastructure tailored for hydrogen and green fuel applications.
• The company will co-fund and support selected research projects originating from the CoE, facilitating the transition of promising ideas from lab to demonstration and eventual commercialization.

Avaada is already developing a 1,500 tonnes-per-day green ammonia plant in Gopalpur, in collaboration with technology partner Casale, and plans to invest about $2.28 billion in renewable and green fuels projects in the state, positioning Odisha as a strategic hub in its “sand-to-molecule” strategy.

GRIDCO: Implementing Agency and Policy Bridge

GRIDCO, the Grid Corporation of Odisha and the state’s bulk power supplier, will act as the implementing agency for the CoE. Its responsibilities include:

• Coordinating with MNRE and the Government of Odisha to secure funding and align the CoE with national and state-level programs.
• Ensuring that research outputs contribute to Odisha’s renewable-energy planning, grid integration strategies, and future hydrogen corridors.
• Interfacing with other national hydrogen initiatives to ensure the Odisha CoE operates as part of a broader Indian hydrogen ecosystem.

GRIDCO is already central to various renewable-energy and hydrogen initiatives in the state, and its role is crucial for bridging policy, regulation, and project execution.

IIT Bhubaneswar: Academic Host and Talent Pipeline

IIT Bhubaneswar will serve as the host institution and academic partner for the center. Under the MoU:

• The institute will provide land, laboratories, and institutional infrastructure for the core CoE.
• Faculty and research teams will lead projects on materials, electrolysers, storage systems, safety, and end-use technologies.
• The CoE is expected to train the next generation of hydrogen scientists and engineers through specialized graduate programs, internships, and industry-linked projects.

Oversight of the center will be under the Principal Secretary of Odisha’s Energy Department, highlighting its strategic importance for the state’s energy transition.

Global Collaborations and Initiatives

The MoU for the Green Hydrogen CoE is part of a broader set of clean-energy collaborations announced in Odisha recently. At the Global Energy Leaders Summit (GELS) 2025 in Puri, policymakers released a Draft Puri Declaration and facilitated several knowledge-partnership MoUs to support renewable pilots and joint project development across Odisha.

In parallel, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, GRIDCO, and IIT Bhubaneswar signed a five-year Research Collaboration Agreement on December 7 to test sustainable energy technologies in Odisha. This program, backed by approximately S$10 million (about ₹70 crore) from the state’s Energy Department via GRIDCO, will cover clean energy, future grid technologies, and sustainability solutions.

These initiatives suggest that Odisha is building a multi-layered innovation ecosystem, involving international academic partnerships, state-run implementing agencies, leading Indian institutions, and industrial champions.

Why Odisha?

Odisha’s prominence in India’s hydrogen landscape is due to several structural advantages that make the state a prime candidate for a flagship Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence:

• Strong renewable resource base and industrial demand: The state boasts significant solar and wind potential, along with an energy-intensive industrial base in steel, metals, fertilizers, and chemicals — sectors that green hydrogen aims to decarbonize.
• Port infrastructure and green ammonia export prospects: Projects like Avaada’s upcoming green ammonia facility in Gopalpur position Odisha’s ports as export gateways for green fuels.
• Supportive policy framework: The Odisha Renewable Energy Policy 2022 aims to accelerate investment in renewables and associated green-fuel industries, emphasizing hydrogen and green ammonia as key sectors.
• Access to finance and national programs: India’s
  
  Article Source
  Disclaimer: A Teams provides news and information for general awareness purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of any content. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of A Teams. We are not liable for any actions taken based on the information published. Content may be updated or changed without prior notice.