A letter of intent (LoI) was signed between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) for a long-term collaboration focusing on hydrogen technologies.
The LoI was signed by Dr Anita Gupta, Scientist G and Head, Energy Technologies Cell, DST and Prof. Dr Christopher Hebling, Director, Hydrogen Technologies, Fraunhofer ISE in the presence of Secretary, DST, Dr S. Chandrasekhar in New Delhi on Saturday.
India and Germany share the goal of decarbonizing their economies and are committed to collaborating jointly in the pursuit of energy security and climate protection, the Ministry of Science & Technology said in a press release. Both countries have committed to develop a national green hydrogen economy to facilitate achievement of the Paris Agreement targets, it said.
The LoI will trigger development of higher technology readiness level (TRL) for hydrogen energy clusters being set up by DST and identify existing technologies and potential interventions from Fraunhofer in green hydrogen, integrate them with indigenous technologies, and deploy/ calibrate them for Indian conditions, the ministry said.
DST will provide the enabling framework for cooperation in the hydrogen valley cluster projects, support activities, and facilitate the resources needed wherever applicable and possible. Meanwhile Fraunhofer acts as a technology partner for the hydrogen valley/ cluster, provides information and access to technologies of TRL 5–8, scientific and technical experts, collaboration in preparing technology roadmaps and guidelines for innovation ecosystem/ cluster, it said.
This collaboration will pave the way to forge active engagements and collaborations based on mutual needs and strength to further research and technological capabilities in the hydrogen and clean energy sector. It would help in accelerating pathways for energy transition in India, it added.
The event was also attended by R. Madhan, Director, Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC), Anandi Iyer, Director Fraunhofer India and officials representing both sides.
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In October 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India’s renewable energy company Greenko and Singapore’s Keppel Infrastructure to explore opportunities in green hydrogen exports from India. The two companies have been working towards an annual contract of 2,50,000 tonnes to be supplied to Keppel’s 600 Mw plant in Singapore.