Photo Courtesy: VIT-AP University
Amaravati, March 10 (MExN): VIT-AP University has on Tuesday expressed willingness to collaborate with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Power, to accelerate energy efficiency initiatives across key sectors.
The announcement was made during Energy Conservation Week (March 10–14) at the university in Amaravati by Vice-Chancellor P Arulmozhivarman, who said the institution aims to develop innovative energy-efficient technologies with EESL to provide cost-effective solutions for society.
He said the university also plans to transform its nearly 20,000 students into “Champions of Climate Action” to actively contribute to addressing climate change and showcase their initiatives at the national level. The collaboration will also aim to make the campus 100 per cent carbon-free and develop benchmark technologies supporting affordable energy solutions.
Officials noted that Andhra Pradesh has emerged as one of the best-performing states in energy efficiency programmes, particularly the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP).
Proposed initiatives under the collaboration include developing a smart sustainable campus using smart meters, IoT-based monitoring systems and AI-driven energy management technologies; implementing LED retrofits, rooftop solar installations, smart street lighting and waste-to-energy biogas plants; and establishing a Centre for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability to promote research in smart grids, green buildings and carbon monitoring technologies.
The partnership will also focus on student skill development through internships, live energy audit projects, capstone research initiatives and climate champion programmes, along with workshops, hackathons and demonstrations on clean mobility solutions such as EV charging infrastructure.
Welcoming the initiative, EESL National Adviser (Media and Government Affairs) A. Chandra Shekhara Reddy, who attended the event as chief guest, said the collaboration would help scale up energy efficiency through adoption of advanced technologies. He also conveyed a message from EESL CEO Akhilesh Kumar Dixit.
Reddy said India is increasingly recognised globally for its climate action initiatives and noted that experts at the India Energy Week 2026 appreciated the country’s achievements in energy conservation, including saving 53.60 million tonnes of oil equivalent energy, 321.39 billion units of electricity and reducing 321.06 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
He added that national initiatives such as the UJALA Programme launched in 2015 have helped reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy experts at the event also appreciated the Andhra Pradesh government’s vision to transform the state into one of the most energy-efficient economies by 2028.
Dr Y V Pavan Kumar, convener of Energy Conservation Week 2026, presented the proposed collaboration through a detailed presentation. EESL advisers also urged the university to coordinate with the State Energy Conservation Mission, State Designated Agency of Andhra Pradesh and the higher education department to involve students in the energy conservation movement.
Former ISRO scientist Jayaraman K Iyer, Dasari Ramakrishna, founder and managing director of Efftronics Systems Pvt Ltd, and Hareesh Janakiraman, director of Embedded-Guru LLC, attended as guests of honour. Registrar Jagadish Chandra and deputy director of student welfare Khadeer Pasha were also present.
