UP Govt Clears Centre of Excellence in Green Hydrogen at IIT-BHU

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Green Hydrogen at the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, under the Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy–2024.

The centre will be jointly developed by IIT-BHU and Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology (MMMUT), Gorakhpur, with the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) formally granting approval. The initiative aims to strengthen research, technology development, capacity building and industrial applications of green hydrogen across the state.

A flagship component of the project is the proposed hydrogen-powered train service between Varanasi and Gorakhpur, to be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways. The corridor will serve as a live testbed for hydrogen storage, transportation, operational performance and end-use applications. In parallel, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) plans to deploy green hydrogen-fuelled buses on the same route, positioning eastern Uttar Pradesh as a clean mobility hub.

Nearly 50 per cent of the project infrastructure will be established at MMMUT Gorakhpur, strengthening the regional technology ecosystem. IIT-BHU will act as the lead institution, overseeing strategic planning, research direction and technical mentoring.

Dr Preetam Singh, Coordinator and Associate Professor, Department of Ceramic Energy at IIT-BHU, said  that the Centre will focus on both biomass-based and electrolyser-based hydrogen production. Given Uttar Pradesh’s abundant biomass availability, the Centre will prioritise cost-effective biomass-based hydrogen technologies, while continuing research across emerging hydrogen pathways.

The Centre will also set up an incubation hub to support innovation, entrepreneurship and startups in green hydrogen and clean energy. Under a hub-and-spoke model, nearby engineering colleges and technical institutes will be developed as spokes, receiving curriculum support, faculty training, mentoring and access to technical exhibitions.

In addition, the Centre will provide policy recommendations to the state government on hydrogen production, storage, transportation and utilisation to support evidence-based policymaking.

Calling the initiative a landmark, Prof. Amit Patra, Director, IIT-BHU, said that the Centre would open new avenues for clean energy research and green mobility, with the hydrogen-powered train and bus operations marking a significant step in India’s energy transition.