ERODE: In a bid to understand and conduct research in renewable energy sector, a Renewable Energy Research Centre has been established at Kongu Engineering College at a cost of Rs 1 crore.
The center has been funded by the Department of Science and Technology under the fund for improvement of Science Technology Infrastructure in Higher Educational Institutions scheme.
The center has facilities to understand and research on various components used in different renewable energy products such as micro grid, fuel cell station, battery testing module, programmable power source and other equipment relevant to renewable energy.
Professors said that the focus on alternate energy was increasing due to fossil fuel exhaustion and environment problems caused by conventional power generation.
It has been estimated that renewable energy is expected to satisfy 50 per cent of total needs of India in 2050. The facility was inaugurated by A Venkatachalam, correspondent of the college.