ONGC Energy Centre Trust

ONGC Energy Centre Trust (OECT) was set up by ONGC to conduct research in alternate energy, specifically focusing on projects, which have the potential to make an impact on India’s Energy scenario. Since its inception under the Indian Trust Act, on 8 August 2005, OEC is engaged in Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) through own Scientists/Research Teams as well as Collaborative Partners.

The Chairperson & Managing Director of ONGC is the Chairperson of the ONGC Energy Centre Trust. The other Trustees include some of the full time Directors of ONGC, some of the Eminent Persons from the field of Science and Technology, and the Director General of the ONGC Energy Centre as ex-officio member of the Trust.

In-house R&D facilities

OEC has most of the Projects in lab batch scale and lab continuous scale after transitioning from proof-of-concept stage since its operationalization in the year 2007. At present, seven projects are entering in to scale up, lab continuous integration, pilot plant and demonstration stage.

Notable achievements of OEC are: 8 National and 5 International Patents had been granted in countries such as US, UK, China, South Korea, Canada and Japan. Additionally, 11 National and 8 International Patents have been filed.

In order to leapfrog for carrying out R&D (Research and Development), where in-house facilities are not fully developed or/and if required to supplement the in-house efforts, OEC follows two approaches (i) to directly interact with the academic/research institutions with known research base in the identified area of research or (ii) solicit collaborative proposals through open Call for Proposals.  Based on the requirement of OEC and interest of such institution, availability of essential research facilities for the proposed work at the institution and mutual agreement on broad approach for the proposed research work, joint proposals are developed and mutually discussed to finalize the scope of the work, work methodology and deliverables, etc.

The output of such project implemented by OEC is also reported as joint publications and filing of patents, where ever feasible.

Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) Activities

ONGC Energy Centre is engaged in RD&D in various clean and renewable energy options since 2007-2008. The focus of RD&D efforts has been in certain key technology areas –

1. Geothermal Energy
2. Hydrogen Energy - focus on Hydrogen generation and supporting technology
3. Bio-technology based processes for energy
4. Uranium Exploration, In-situ recovery of Uranium and Helium recovery
5. Solar/ Thermal Energy
6. Kinetic hydro power
7. Other areas like - energy efficiency in oil & gas sector, energy recovery from hydrocarbon waste, conversion of CO2 to value added products, etc.  

Most of the projects in such areas have been taken up for the first time in the country and many of the projects are in advanced stages of implementation or recently completed the initial research to develop and demonstrate the process. Therefore, OEC is in the process of consolidation of on-going efforts and vertical integration of the activities.

As a result of efforts made since the inception of OEC, significant progress has been made in terms of

1. development of process and products,
2. development of indigenous equipment,
3. field testing of process,
4. identification of resources,
5. setting up of basic facilities for R&D, testing and characterization, etc. 

R&D projects of OEC are initiated through in-house technology scanning and assessment, preparation of technology status reports, organization and support for seminars, workshops, conferences, and also interactive meetings with Experts, Academic and Research organizations and other Stakeholders. OEC has collaborative RD&D work with some of the leading Academic and National Research Institutions for research, testing and characterization as well as intellectual support.

List of OECT Patents

1. List of National and International Patents granted to OECT: 8 National and 5 International Patents

2. List of National and International (PCT: Patent Cooperation Treaty) Patents at various stages of application filing: 11 National and 8 International Applications