Pune: COEP Technological University and JSW Projects have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up what they describe as India’s first indigenous battery prototyping and pilot-scale research and development centre at the university’s Chikhali Research Park, with an investment of over Rs 800 crore across two phases.The centre will focus on developing and testing lithium-ion battery cells, along with sodium-ion and other advanced battery technologies. The initiative is expected to create over 1,000 jobs linked to the battery ecosystem and provide a platform for students and faculty to work with industry engineers on commercially relevant technologies.In the first phase, the centre will undertake battery-cell design, simulation and prototyping. The second phase will establish a cell validation facility with the capability to manufacture cells with capacities ranging from 100 to 600 Ah.COEP vice-chancellor Prof Sunil Bhirud said the partnership could help develop indigenous alternatives to imported batteries while giving students hands-on exposure to advanced battery technology.JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal said the partnership would help develop cells suited to Indian climatic conditions and applications. “Cells are the new fuel of this century,” he said, and added that India needed to build domestic capabilities to manufacture them.The project aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industry by enabling joint research, technology development, publications and intellectual property creation. The centre is also expected to support applications in electric vehicles, grid storage and clean energy.
