The Centre for Renewable Energy (CRE) at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has been established with the strategic objective of advancing research, development, education, and innovation in the field of renewable and sustainable energy technologies. As the world transitions toward a sustainable future, the role of renewable energy has never been more critical. Recognising the global imperative to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources, the Centre aims to serve as a hub of excellence for interdisciplinary collaboration, technological innovation, and policy-relevant research. 

Our Centre is committed to pioneering research, education, and innovation in the field of clean energy technologies, with a focus on solar, wind, bioenergy, and emerging storage solutions.  Through strategic partnerships with industry, academia, and government bodies, we aim to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world application. 

With a team of 7 dedicated faculty members and under the expert guidance of Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, the CRE at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad continues to strive toward our mission of fostering innovation, nurturing talent, and contributing meaningfully to national and global renewable energy goals.  

With Regards,
Gauri Shankar, Ph.D. (Engg.)

Vision: To become a nationally recognised centre of excellence in renewable energy research, innovation, and capacity building, leading the transition to a sustainable, inclusive, and carbon-neutral future through technology, education, and community engagement. 

Mission:

1. Advanced Interdisciplinary Research 
   Promote high-impact, cross-disciplinary research in renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, bioenergy, storage systems, and hybrid solutions. 
2. Empower through Skill Development 
   Facilitate training and upskilling of students, professionals, and underserved communities—especially coal mine workers—through certified programs like Project ReNew Surya. 
3. Enable Technology Development & Deployment 
   Design, prototype, and field-test cost-effective and scalable green energy technologies for rural, urban, and industrial applications. 
4. Foster Industry-Academia Collaboration 
   Build strong linkages with industry partners, government bodies, and non-profits to support innovation pipelines, pilot deployments, and entrepreneurship in clean energy.
5. Support Policy and Societal Transitions 
   Contribute to policy advocacy and public awareness for sustainable energy transitions, just energy access, and low-carbon development goals.

• Conduct advanced research in renewable energy generation, storage, and integration. 
• Develop cost-effective, scalable technologies for energy access and sustainability. 
• Promote collaborative projects with national and international academic, industrial, and government stakeholders. 
• Facilitate training programs, workshops, and internships to build capacity in clean energy technologies. 
• Support policy research and entrepreneurship in renewable and sustainable energy domains. 

• Solar PV systems and smart grid integration 
• Wind energy and hybrid microgrid development 
• Energy storage technologies, including battery and supercapacitor systems
• Bioenergy and waste-to-energy conversion 
• Hydrogen energy and fuel cell research 
• Power electronics for renewable energy conditioning 
• AI and IoT applications in energy systems 

The Centre brings together a team of interdisciplinary experts committed to excellence in research and innovation in renewable energy:

CRE leverages world-class infrastructure previously developed under Centre of Excellence in Renewable Energy (CERE). CERE conducts research in areas like improving the efficiency of undoped ZnO/Si heterojunction solar cells, developing p-type SnOX thin films, and optimizing crystal quality and absorption coefficients of thin films. The major facilities under CERE includes: 

• Dual Chamber PVD System
• Rapid Thermal Processor
• STYLUS Thickness Profiler
• Magnetic Stirrer
• Hall Effects Measurement System
• Muffle Cum Tube Furnace
• Fume Hood
• Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer
• Solar Converter System
• Solar Simulator & SMU

These facilities enable high-impact research, training, and prototype development in emerging clean energy domains. 

CRE is committed to forging partnerships with: 

• MNRE, DST, SERB
• ReNew Power
• International academic institutions
• NGOs and community projects

Through such engagements, CRE aims to deliver sustainable solutions tailored to Indian energy needs, particularly in rural, underserved, and industrially backwards regions. 

Title: Project ReNew Surya

Objective: Skill Training Program for Coal Mine Workers in the Renewable Energy Sector 

Implementation Partner: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad 

Funding Partner: ReNew Foundation 

Reporting Period: 15 October 2024 to 7 March 2025 

Training Curriculum: NSDC-SCGJ certified “Suryamitra” Solar Technician Training (400 hours/batch) 

Goals 

• To train 300 coal mine workers, with special emphasis on the inclusion of >50% women candidates 

• Promote green livelihoods and micro-entrepreneurship 

• Facilitate industry linkages and placements in the renewable energy sector