Biographical sketch of Prof. H. Saha:
Prof. Hiranmay Saha, currently Hony. Professor at the School of Advanced Materials, Green Energy and Sensor Systems (SAMGESS) at IIEST, Shibpur, was born in 1946 and obtained his doctoral degree on “Studies on Solar Cells and Photovoltaic Systems” in 1976. He is one of the pioneers in Solar Energy research and teaching in India. He has been working on development of solar cells and systems during his 57 years of professional experience in Dept of Physics, Kalyani University, Dept of Electronics and Telecom Engineering, Jadavpur University and SAMGESS in IIEST, Shibpur as well as in Agni Green Power Limited founded in 1995. He was instrumental in setting up IC Design and Fabrication Centre in Jadavpur University and the DST-IIEST solar Photovoltaic Hub at IIEST, Shibpur where a state of art industry compatible facility of fabrication and characterisation of silicon solar cells and a Smart Microgrid unit have been established. Under his leadership R&D projects for development of different types of cutting edge advanced silicon solar cells and solar PV systems are being carried out. He has published more than 300 technical papers in the field of solar cells and systems and sensors and supervised 34 PhD students. He designed the first solar Power plant in India of 26 kWp for OREDA as early as 1989 and also developed and patented the solar lantern central charging system in 1992. He has been awarded the prestigious PVSEC award for his outstanding contribution to Solar Energy Systems in India and ETMN Technology Leadership award by Jamia Millia University for his pioneering contribution to solar cells research in India. He also served as expert committee member in different DST and MNRE Project Advisory Committees. He was also the Chairman of Solar Energy Society of India, Eastern Regional Chapter as well as the President of Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, Eastern Region. Currently he is serving as the Chairman of Agni Green Power Limited, a 30 years old reputed Solar Energy company and Distinguished Professor of JIS IASR and also visiting Professor of IIEST Shibpur.