SESI stresses on collaborations in solar energy

Posted on 07 Sep 2020

Government of India aims to achieve a target of 175GW of renewable energy by 2022 and 100 GW of the target through solar energy projects across the country. However, when it comes to awareness level in the country about this hugely potential alternative energy source, it is far from satisfactory Solar Energy Society of India (SESI) said in a statement.

SESI has been promoting solar energy in India. As part of the series of webinars on Solar Energy: The Agent of Change, on 6th September 2020, ‘Renewable Energy in Indian Universities’ was organised where Chief Guest Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE delivered the keynote address. The virtual programme dwelt on how to prioritize research and application of renewable sources in the curriculum and how academia and industry can work together to develop an ecosystem for solar energy in India.

In his introductory speech, Dr. S M Ali, Vice President of SESI and Director of the Indian Institute of Engineers, said that promotion and implementation of renewable energy through research and academia will drive major change in the institutions as well as the industry. Prafulla Pathak, President of SESI, threw light on how solar energy sector can push youth towards entrepreneurship. “There is a lot of scope in the solar energy sector. Today interaction and sharing of ideas will help in better development of industry and encourage the students to become entrepreneurs,” he said.

Dr. Sahasrabudhe showed his optimism about the growth of the solar industry in the country. He said that converting India into a solar rich country will help realize the Prime Minister’s drives of establishing 175 GW worth of renewable energy by 2022. “It is a hard vision but not impossible. Many innovations like rooftop installations, creating water heaters, and channelizing multi-purpose ideas will make this drive feasible and possible.” He also expressed his displeasure about the fact that solar energy was known as non-conventional energy until the innovation of solar cells and was used to generate electricity.

Dr. Sahasrabudhe inspired the attendees by informing them about the various awards that AICTE gives and a payback plan that many companies follow to enforce the establishment of solar panels. He appealed to the attendees to create models and smart campuses that will significantly use waste as well as renewable energy efficiently and effectively. He suggested installing sensors that will analyze the use of energy and help layout better plans for adopting the right kind of resources.

Agreeing to Dr. Sahasrabudhe, Dr. Sunil Rai, Vice-Chancellor, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) highlighted how usage of renewable energy resources has been introduced in many institutions. He has been ensuring to make new courses in UPES that are solar energy-oriented. Now, UPES, runs short term courses, diplomas, online course, and distance learning. They have 12 programmes running that focus on renewable energy and its implementation. He is also trying to get these courses NSDC certified.

Dr. Rai’s other initiatives include disciplinary research in the field and large scale production and smart usage of these resources. Along with the Uttarakhand Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (UIE) and Incubation Center, he has promised to try and produce at least 10% entrepreneurs among the students. Along with the NEP provisions he envisions creating courses that will include vocational skills, creativity, sustainability, innovation, etc. Dr. Rai has started a project in five villages where the students are sent for social internships to understand people’s energy needs and collaborate with the industry to fulfil them.

Dr. Biswajit Ghosh, Vice-Chairman of The Neotia University emphasized on how cleaner and safer resources can be adopted to curb pollution. He enlightened everyone about how renewable resources have been used since the ancient civilization and it’s time to go back to the core values. “The difference between the power generated by conventional energy resources and non-conventional energy resources needs to be evaluated. Nonconventional energy resources do not contaminate lands as compared to conventional ones. Thus solar energy is a clean source of power,” he said.

Citing the example of Jadavpur University which has introduced M-Tech and B-Tech programs focusing on Energy, Science, and Technology, he said, he is also trying to create a green university, where they are integrating solar energy with electrical energy courses to spread better knowledge and awareness. According to him, the NEP should also focus on the skill development and universities should create programs that are oriented towards bio-energy, mini hydel power plants, and solar power plants.

The Solar Energy of India (SESI), established in 1978 in New Delhi is the Indian Section of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES). Its interests cover all aspects of renewable energy, including characteristics, effects and methods of use, and it provides a common ground to all those concerned with the nature and utilization of this renewable non-polluting resource.