The University of Warwick has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Tata Power Company Limited (Tata Power), India’s leading integrated power company, to deliver research and innovation in grid modernisation, fast charging, power storage, industrial decarbonisation, digital energy systems, optimisation and advanced manufacturing approaches.
The collaboration will also explore industry-aligned executive education programmes, capability development initiatives, exchange opportunities, technical workshops, and joint case study development. Together, these efforts mark an important step toward strengthening long-term research capability, talent development, and global academic engagement aligned with Tata Power’s strategic priorities.
The agreement builds upon decades of expertise established at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) – one of the University’s largest academic departments – and the School of Engineering. The University also announced a renewed focus on energy systems, which will support the partnership.
Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, said: “We strive to make a better world through our world-leading research and education. Our partnership with Tata Power marries our academic excellence with leading industry expertise to help advance a more sustainable future for people, places, and our planet.”
The University has long-established research groups focused across the energy spectrum, from semiconductors, to components, power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) to full energy systems. By increasing collaboration across these areas and focusing on power supply, the University will be able to support partners, such as Tata Power, in decarbonisation. This will include the shift from fossil fuels to electrification, grid innovation, advanced power storage and a system-level focus.
“Tata Power is committed to transforming India’s energy landscape,” said Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Power and Honorary Professor at WMG. “Our vision is to empower a billion lives through sustainable, affordable, and innovative energy solutions, and we are making strong progress toward that goal. We are building a consumer-centric green energy future anchored in decarbonization, reliable and affordable power, and long-term sustainability. Our agreement with the University of Warwick -an institution with a distinguished track record in electrification and sustainability will further accelerate our ambitions and strengthen the pathway to achieving them.”
Established research programmes within WMG and the School of Engineering already support advances in sustainable energy, including circular materials, battery innovation, wind energy, artificial intelligence, and industrial decarbonisation, contributing to national and international targets to reduce carbon emissions and costs.
“Applying excellent research to deliver industrial and societal impact has been part of WMG’s mission for the past 45 years,” said Professor Kerry Kirwan, Dean of WMG. “And our celebrated partnership with the Tata Group stretches back decades. It is a partnership built on extensive collaboration across research, education and innovation, and it’s exciting to see how that legacy continues to deliver positive global impact.”
“Research relationships with India, including Tata, have always been incredibly valuable to us,” added Professor David Greenwood, Director for Industrial Engagement and CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG. “With a free trade agreement now in place between the UK and India, now is the ideal time to work together on critical challenges of energy, industry and the environment, while exploring new research, education and engagement opportunities.”
Systems-level thinking is crucial to achieving industrial decarbonisation in an efficient and economically viable way. WMG already has proven capability here, working with large-scale energy users, such as ports and airports, to provide a detailed route-map to investment and return. Meanwhile, the School of Engineering is committed to supporting the energy transition challenge, bringing a systems-level perspective and particular focus on advanced control and artificial intelligence (AI) for future power and energy systems.
“By applying artificial intelligence–enabled modelling and control techniques, we are developing solutions that enhance system stability, resilience, and efficiency,” said Professor David Towers, Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick. “Our research spans national, regional, and microgrid-scale infrastructures, integrating renewables — particularly wind — alongside energy storage and hydrogen technologies. We look forward to working with Tata Power to translate these capabilities into scalable, industrially relevant decarbonisation pathways.”
In 2025, the Tata Group and the University of Warwick received the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Lord Bhattacharyya Award in recognition of their pioneering partnership.
About Tata Power: Part of the Tata Group, Tata Power owns a diversified portfolio of 16.3 GW across the power value chain, including renewable and conventional generation, transmission, distribution, trading, storage solutions, and solar cell and module manufacturing. The company has 7.5 GW of clean energy generation, representing 46% of its total capacity, and is committed to achieving Net Zero by 2045. Tata Power serves approximately 13 million customers across India through partnerships in generation, transmission, and distribution.
About the University of Warwick: Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a global institution recognised for innovation in research and education, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and industry partnerships across the UK and international hubs.
