In a great leap toward reshaping the future of aviation, the world is about to witness the launch of its first-ever hydrogen-powered Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft ecosystem. A pioneering collaboration between Indian government-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), BluJ Aerospace, the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) of the Government of Kerala, and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) is set to revolutionize urban air mobility, propelling the aviation industry into a new era of sustainability.

This ambitious project, announced in Kochi on March 12, 2025, is not just a technological feat but also a crucial step in India’s mission to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070. The hydrogen-powered VTOL aircraft will drastically cut down carbon emissions, offering a faster, quieter, and more efficient alternative to conventional aircraft, while redefining how we think about air travel and clean energy.

A leap toward sustainable aviation

BPCL’s role in this pioneering venture is pivotal. As part of the partnership, BPCL will be responsible for establishing Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) in Kochi and Trivandrum, two major cities in South Indian state Kerala, laying the groundwork for hydrogen-powered aviation in the country. These stations will provide the critical infrastructure needed to fuel the VTOL aircraft developed by BluJ Aerospace. In addition, BPCL will spearhead research to develop an Indigenous Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Hydrogen Fuel Cell, designed to deliver high power density, essential for the vertical lift-off capabilities of the aircraft.

“Green hydrogen holds the potential to transform aviation and urban mobility. This partnership reflects our resolve to lead in clean energy solutions that are innovative and practical for a sustainable future,” said G. Krishnakumar, Chairman and Managing Director of BPCL.

For a cleaner future

This collaboration is not only a win for aviation but also for Kerala’s broader Hydrogen Valley Program, which aims to position the state as a leader in hydrogen mobility. BPCL’s HRS facilities in Kochi and Trivandrum will serve as hubs for research and pilot projects, supporting the adoption of hydrogen-powered transportation solutions across the region.

As hydrogen technology continues to advance, this project stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability. With the potential to reshape the global aviation landscape, the hydrogen-fueled VTOL aircraft ecosystem is a significant milestone in India’s journey toward clean energy and a low-carbon future.

As the global transition to renewable energy gathers pace, accurate weather and climate insights are becoming crucial for ensuring the reliability and resilience of energy systems, as well as for effectively planning electricity demand and supplies. A new report, 2023 Year in Review: Climate-driven Global Renewable Energy Potential Resources and Energy Demand, highlights the essential role of climate-informed and diversified energy solutions to meet global targets for renewable energy expansion.

The report, a collaborative effort from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which is operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), underscores the need for a comprehensive approach in planning renewable energy systems.

“Whether it is solar power generation in drier-than-average conditions, wind power generation in regions experiencing shifts from La Niña to El Niño conditions, or hydropower generation in the face of fluctuating precipitation patterns, climate has a direct bearing on both electricity supply and demand. Such challenges also present unprecedented opportunities: the integration of climate insights into energy planning yields more reliable power generation, helps anticipate seasonal peaks in demand and strengthens the adaptability of future infrastructure development,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, IRENA Director-General Francesco Camera, and C3S Director Carlo Buontempo in a joint foreword.

The report focuses on the year 2023, which marked a transition from La Niña to El Niño conditions, significantly affecting climatic variables critical to the energy sector, including wind speed, solar radiation, precipitation, and temperature. Notably, 2023 was the warmest year on record until it was surpassed by 2024.

This report is being released ahead of the Sustainable Energy for All Global Forum, set to take place in Barbados on 12-13 March 2025.

According to a press statement issued by the organizations involved, the findings underscore the urgent need for integrating climate data into energy strategies to meet the ambitious renewable energy and energy efficiency goals set for 2030.

The narrow roads within IIT Kanpur’s campus wind through a vibrant residential neighbourhood, where compact, beautifully designed homes house the staff. Above these homes, solar panels gleam in the sunlight—not merely as an aesthetic feature, but as a symbol of a much larger energy transformation underway. This gleam reflects a bold vision for India’s energy future, one that’s driven by solar power, smart technology, and community participation.

At the heart of this transformation is IIT Kanpur, located in India’s Uttar Pradesh, lighting the way toward an energy future powered by clean, renewable energy. With innovation as its cornerstone, IIT Kanpur is shaping a new model of energy independence for India—a model that could be replicated across the country.

The spark of change

In 2017, the Indo-US partnership, known as the US-India Collaborative for Smart Distribution System with Storage (UI-ASSIST), was launched, bringing together top institutions from both countries. Led by Washington State University in the U.S. and IIT Kanpur in India, the partnership also includes IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee, IIT Bhubaneswar, and TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute). Their collective goal: to create scalable, sustainable solutions for integrating renewable energy into India’s power grid. “This new consortium demonstrates the U.S. and India’s commitment to ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy in both countries,” said then-U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry. “We know that continued grid innovation will foster economic growth and enhance energy security in both the United States and India.”

IIT Kanpur’s residential area has become a testing ground for this vision. Out of the 51 homes in residential lanes 32 and 33, 30 houses were selected based on a shadow analysis survey. These homes have been equipped with 5kWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems and state-of-the-art smart meters, turning residents into active energy producers. This transformation was part of a larger vision to create a microgrid capable of providing energy independence to the community.

A model of solar empowerment

Imagine this: families, once entirely dependent on the grid, now waking up to homes powered by the sun. “In Lane 32, 12 of the 21 homes are now powered by solar energy, while 18 out of 30 homes in Lane 33 have solar PV installations,” says Shiv Kumar Singh, Research Establishment Officer at IIT Kanpur’s Department of Electrical Engineering.

These homes are no longer passive consumers. With 5 kW of solar capacity, they actively contribute to the energy network, providing power to the grid and helping to reduce the community’s overall carbon footprint. For IIT Kanpur, this project is more than just an experiment—it’s a proof of concept for how solar energy can be scaled beyond cities and industries and into residential communities.

The hidden power: Energy storage and control

At the core of this experiment lies a powerful duo: energy storage and smart management. According to Shiv Kumar Singh, the project integrates two centralized lithium-ion battery storage systems—one with a 140 kWh capacity and another with 100 kWh. These systems store excess solar energy generated during the day and return it to the grid during the evening, when the sun sets.

But it doesn’t stop there. The project is made even smarter by the use of data. Smart meters, installed throughout the system, constantly collect data on energy consumption. This data is fed into a SCADA control center, where it’s analyzed in real-time to optimize energy usage and ensure the grid operates as efficiently as possible. This intelligent, data-driven approach maximizes every watt of energy generated and consumed.

Driving the future of clean transportation

As solar energy begins to power homes, another puzzle piece is being put in place: clean transportation. At IIT Kanpur, two new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been set up near the main gate and the nearby Community Centre. These stations are equipped with a variety of chargers, including 50kW DC fast chargers, 22kW AC chargers, and 7.6kW Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) chargers, integrated with a 25kW solar PV array.

This isn’t just about charging vehicles; it’s about creating a self-sustaining ecosystem where transportation and energy generation are interconnected. By using clean energy to charge electric vehicles, IIT Kanpur is contributing to a future where urban mobility is powered by renewable resources, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of transportation.

Smart and sustainable: The microgrid revolution

The centerpiece of this entire initiative is the microgrid, which is controlled and optimized by a sophisticated Microgrid Controller. This technology ensures that energy is distributed efficiently among solar PV systems, storage units, and EV charging stations, keeping everything balanced and functioning smoothly. Thanks to real-time data analysis from the smart meters and SCADA center, the system isn’t just reactive—it’s proactive, learning from its environment and optimizing energy use as it goes.

Urban field demonstration pilot at IIT Kanpur

With growing urban energy demands, India faces a unique set of challenges. Multi-story buildings, high air-conditioning loads, and reliance on Diesel Generators (DGs) for backup power add significant strain to the grid and contribute to pollution. IIT Kanpur is tackling these issues head-on with two groundbreaking sub-pilots that demonstrate innovative energy solutions.

The first sub-pilot features a small, grid-connected microgrid designed to supply energy to two multi-story residential towers. By integrating Solar PV systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), this project reduces the reliance on DGs and provides a more sustainable, reliable energy source. During power outages, BESS ensures uninterrupted power for essential services, such as lifts and lighting in common areas.

The second sub-pilot showcases the potential of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, which, inaugurated in November 2020, help reduce peak air-conditioning loads. By storing cool energy during off-peak hours, TES systems cut energy consumption during peak demand times. This system has already been installed at IIT Kanpur’s Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, where a 775 TRHR TES system is actively reducing air-conditioning loads, further enhancing energy efficiency.

The environmental impact

IIT Kanpur’s approach goes beyond technology; it’s about creating lasting environmental and social benefits. By integrating TES and solar PV systems, the initiative not only reduces peak load but also cuts carbon emissions, contributing to India’s carbon-neutral goals. The integration of BESS ensures that the urban microgrid remains reliable even during power outages, helping foster long-term sustainability.

The 775 TRHR TES system at the Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering plays a key role in reducing the building’s air-conditioning demand. By using phase change materials with glycol solution as the coolant, it absorbs off-peak energy to cool the building during peak periods, leading to significant energy savings.

According to a research paper (2022) by Suresh Chandra Srivastava, Sameer Khandekar, Shiv Kumar Singh, Vinay Kumar Tiwari, and Ankush Sharma from IIT Kanpur, this system has led to a reduction in peak load energy consumption, as verified through data recorded by the SCADA system monitoring the Institute’s power distribution network. By discharging during peak hours and charging during off-peak hours, the system helps reduce peak load and offers potential cost savings, as electricity costs are higher during peak times.

This technology has the potential for widespread adoption in smart cities and data centers across India, further advancing the country’s renewable energy vision.

Shaping India’s renewable energy future

India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with a significant portion coming from solar, is ambitious but increasingly attainable with projects like IIT Kanpur’s. With nearly 40% of solar PV installations expected to be on rooftops connected to the distribution network, initiatives like this one are essential for meeting the country’s renewable energy targets.

By demonstrating how solar energy, energy storage, and sustainable infrastructure can be integrated at the community level, IIT Kanpur is not just building a model for India—it’s creating a blueprint for the world. As the world shifts towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, IIT Kanpur is leading the way.

(This story is produced as part of the Internews Earth Journalism Network’s Science Communicators Workshop on renewable energy)