IIT Kanpur-backed startup develops next-gen solar grid for charging e-boats

Acquafront Infrastructure Private Limited (AIPL), a Startup Incubation and Innovation Center (IIT Kanpur) backed venture has developed a next-gen tech proposition with an aim to refine river ghats of India.

The startup has developed a specialized solar energy-based grid named i-Ghat, which will work as a floating charging station for electric boats. The unique proposition has recently been installed at the Kada Ghat of the Kaushambi district.

The i-Ghat is a solar grid module, equipped with a state-of-the-art floating charging station. This consists of swappable batteries for electric boats which are charged using solar energy.

Furthermore, the grid itself stays afloat using reinforced-cement concrete (RCC) based floats clubbed with solar cells. The electric-powered boats which are developed along with the module use Steel Integrated Floating Jelly (SIFJ) technology to avoid the impact of hazardous plastic-based materials. This allows the system to operate with zero air and noise pollution.

The i-Ghat facility at Kada Ghat, Kaushambi was commissioned back in September, 2022 and has recently been inaugurated in the presence of UP's Deputy CM.

The Acquafront Infrastructure Private Limited startup is yet another revolutionary venture which has been backed and incubated by SIIC, IIT Kanpur. Moreover, the i-Ghat project is backed by NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader based in Japan.