Coal India Ltd. on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras to establish the Center for Sustainable Energy, marking a major step in India’s clean energy transition.

The agreement, signed by CIL Technical Director Achyut Ghatak and IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, aims to advance research and innovation in sustainable energy technologies.

The initiative aligns with Coal India’s broader diversification goals as it transforms from a coal producer to a key player in India’s green energy ecosystem.

The center will focus on repurposing coal mines, developing low-carbon technologies, and reimagining coal as a clean energy feedstock. Supported by CIL’s funding, it will serve as a hub for indigenous R&D, innovation and capacity-building programs.

Coal India Chairman P.M. Prasad said the collaboration reflects the company’s strategic shift. “Coal India is transforming from being the nation’s energy provider to becoming an enabler of India’s clean energy transition,” he said. “This MoU marks a historic step toward sustainable growth while ensuring energy security and socioeconomic progress.”

Supporting India’s Net-Zero Goals

The partnership complements India’s net-zero target for 2070. It also echoes the government’s call to balance the nation’s growing energy demand with sustainability goals.

Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy recently said India’s coal and mineral sectors are “undergoing a historic transformation,” producing over one billion tonnes of coal in 2024–25. He added that coal will remain vital to meeting demand, but its future lies in cleaner technologies such as gasification and renewables.

Coal India has already started diversifying its portfolio. The company, along with other public-sector coal firms, has added nearly 1,900 megawatts of renewable capacity, aiming to reach 15 gigawatts by 2030.

Strengthening Research and Human Capital

According to IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, the collaboration reflects the institute’s mission to drive India’s low-carbon transition. “Together, we aim to develop scalable and impactful solutions that support India’s sustainable energy future,” he said.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy will also focus on building human capital through Ph.D., postdoctoral and internship programs. These initiatives will train future researchers and engineers to lead India’s green energy transformation.

Broader Push for Sustainable Growth

Coal India’s move follows the government’s wider reforms in the mining and energy sectors, including a ₹8,500 crore incentive scheme under the Coal Gasification Mission and new policies to reclaim over 57,000 hectares of mined land by 2030.

With the new center, Coal India aims to accelerate the shift from conventional mining to innovation-led sustainability, ensuring that coal continues to support India’s energy security while enabling a cleaner, greener future.

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Nirmal Menon

Nirmal Menon is a journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering business and technology for mainstream publications in India and abroad. In his previous role, he served as business desk editor at Arab News. He is currently the editor of ESG Times. He can be reached at nirmal.menon@esgtimes.in.