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Coventry University and Indian institutions laying foundations for a greener future
(LtoR): Dr Oliver Curnick, Dr Sanju Thomas, Dr Maria Tareen and Dr Jayesh Shanthi Bhavan
University news / Research news
Monday 30 June 2025
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Coventry University has teamed up with two institutions in India to share its expertise in hydrogen fuel technology – a clean energy that is key to tackling climate change.
Hydrogen fuel cells have a huge part to play in future energy sources with hydrogen able to power vehicles, buildings and industries while contributing to net zero targets.
A new online course from Coventry University focuses on delivering knowledge of hydrogen fuel cells through digital learning and interactive virtual labs, while industry involvement will help develop both technical know-how and employable skills for the future green economy.
The project is a collaboration alongside Indian institutions Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), and has received a £10,000 grant from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Online, Distant, and Digitally Delivered Learning (ODDL) Grant.
We aim to bridge the digital education gap by designing virtual labs, webinars and open educational content focused on hydrogen production, storage, fuel cell design and applications.
Not only does this project align with the Government’s UK–India 2030 Roadmap and national hydrogen missions, it contributes to workforce development in the green energy sector by equipping learners with industry-relevant hydrogen skills.
Dr Sanju Thomas, lecturer in Electrical Engineering who leads the project for Coventry University
Dr Thomas has worked alongside fellow Coventry University academics Dr Jayesh Shanthi Bhavan, who co-led on the project, and Dr Maria Tareen, as well as Dr Oliver Curnick from the university’s Research Centre for E-Mobility and Clean Growth with the centre making its facilities and materials available for the project
It is our privilege to associate with Coventry University for this project. Since hydrogen fuel cells are expected to play a crucial role in the future of clean transportation and energy storage, the participants immensely benefit from the course. While hydrogen fuel cells are not yet a mainstream technology, advancements in production, storage and infrastructure are expected to drive their adoption in the coming years.
Dr Biju N, Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Cochin University of Science and Technology
This project represents a pivotal effort to strengthen international collaboration between academia and industry stakeholders. By aligning expertise and resources, the project seeks to advance sustainable hydrogen production, transport and fuel cell technologies - laying the foundation for a cleaner, low-carbon future.
Dr P.S Robi, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
The news follows a similar project in Egypt to create a Hydrogen Energy Training Hub alongside the British University in Egypt.
