Institute for Energy Studies (IES) was established as an autonomous centre in the year 1999 by integrating 3 centers of excellence namely Centre for New & Renewable Sources of Energy, Center for Automobile Research & Training & Centre for Appropriate Technology. Government of Tamilnadu provided the grants for establishing the Institute.

The main objectives of the Institute are:

• To provide sustainable support for the integration of higher engineering education with its energy related research activities.
  
• To train man power with strong basics in energy related areas including Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation,
  Sustainable Energy Systems etc.,
  
• To provide consultancy to industries in the areas of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation & Management.
  
• To offer various short term training programmes, seminars, workshops etc, to the industry executives /
  managers for their knowledge updatement.
  
• R & D of new technologies for efficient harnessing of Renewable Energy