Seminar on Computational Intelligence Applications to Renewable Energy, 19 July 

A five-day Seminar on "Computational Intelligence Applications to Renewable Energy" organized by Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) during July 09-13, 2012.

Inauguration function: (from left to right) Dr. Anil Kr. Sao, Prof. Subrata Ray, Prof. Lalit Malhotra, Prof. B. Subramanian, Dr. Bharat Singh Rajpurohit

The Seminar was inaugurated by Prof. Lalit Malhotra, acting director of IIT Mandi, Prof. Subrata Ray and Prof. B. Subramanian in academic block of IIT Mandi. In his inaugural address, Prof. Malhotra highlighted the accomplishment and research activities of IIT Mandi. While sharing the vision of IIT Mandi, as an Institute ‘to be a leader in science and technology education, knowledge creation and innovation, in an India marching towards a just, inclusive and sustainable society’ and one of its thrust area ‘to devise globally recognized solutions for the problems of society and industry, particularly in the fragile eco-system of the Himalayas’, he emphasized the relevance of this timely Seminar that has provided the platform where different groups of the society can come together to solve the challenges of ‘green energy’ for a sustainable society. Prof. Ray addressed the gathering by highlighting the need of integrated research planning for energy as well as natural resources in India. Prof. Subramanian shared the philosophical views on word Energy for wider means.

Concluding Session and valedictory function: (from left to right)Dr. Anil Kr. Sao, Er. Pavan Kohli, GM HPPCL Mandi, Er. V. K. Agarwal GM NLDC Delhi

The main objective of this Seminar was to facilitate a discussion about the applications of various Computational Intelligence (CI) techniques and their suitable applications to the renewable energy related problems for efficient grid integration in smart grid environment. The various issues, problems and challenges of the electric grid operation, management and control with high penetration of RES were also discussed. The power systems are changing very rapidly due to the new technological developments and formulation of new regulatory polices of the governments.

Earlier, addressing the participants, Seminar coordinators Dr. B. S. Rajpurohit and Dr. Anil Kr. Sao emphasized the development of various technological and regulatory solutions to counter balance the intermittency and high price of RES like small hydro energy, wind energy, solar energy etc. specially for Indian power sectors. Seminar coordinators said that meaningful discussion in such august gathering would definitely lead to enrichment of all the participants and will carry the message throughout the society. This Seminar drew more than 35 participants from academic institutions, power utilities and industries from different states including UP, Punjab, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Concluding Session and valedictory function: (from left to right) Dr. Anil Kr. Sao, Er. Pavan Kohli, GM HPPCL Mandi, Er. V. K. Agarwal GM NLDC Delhi

Prof Ashwani Chandel from NIT Hamirpur, Dr. N. M. Pindoriya from IIT Gandhinagar, Er. V. K. Agarwal from NLDC, Er. Pavan Kohli from HPPCL Mandi, Er. Bandanjot Singh from National Instruments and Dr. Umakant Dwivdei from RGIEPT were among the speakers. A field visit to Dehar Power House (900 MW) at Slapper, Distt. Mandi was arranged.

The Seminar was financially supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and jointly organized by IIT Mandi and IEEE Delhi section PES/IAS Chapter.

Group photo with participants and speakers