Smart Energy India Focuses on India’s Commitment to the Smart Grid and Renewable Energy
Enabling India to implement the Smart Grid and embrace renewable energy is at the top of the agenda at the upcoming Smart Energy India conference and exhibition which takes place in New Delhi from 1-2 February. Some of India’s most respected power professionals as well as global metering technology experts are meeting in what is considered the country’s top smart grid forum.
Smart grid=smart utilities=happier customers
“In today’s scenario in the Indian utilities, there is a lag in the financial, technical and operational aspects which is leading to unsatisfied customers”, says Loubna Aghzafi, project director of Smart Energy India. She continues: “the Smart Grid is the new revolutionary technology which is envisaged as a dynamic link between the Generator and the end user, taking on board the other stake holders like distributors and transmitters. Smart Energy India serves as an open platform forum where the latest and most effective trends in smart grids are discussed by representatives from implementing utilities across the globe.”
Smart Grid an enabler of renewable energy
“There is no doubt about India’s commitment to renewable energy”, says Smart Energy India’s Loubna Aghzafi. She continues: “for Indian utilities to be more efficient and smarter we need the right technology and the smart grid’s “killer application” is renewable energy integration: in other words, the ability to introduce huge amounts of renewable energy safely and reliably.”
The United States-India Business Council has created a new solar power task force to promote international trade and investment between the two countries in Asia’s budding solar power market. The Indian government has announced that it aims to shore up the country’s solar power capacity to over 20,000 megawatts by 2022. Furthermore, the Indian government is currently working to achieve the first 1,100 MW of solar generation by March 2013.
Smart Grid Task Force reports back
The high-level line-up of speakers include a classic cross section of the Ministry of power, governing bodies, regulators, financiers and utility personnel, which will give an all round perspective. Loubna Aghzafi notes: “all the speakers at the conference have a rich background in the Indian Power Scenario and are well known for their futuristic view. We are particularly honoured to have Sam Pitroda, chief of India’s Smart Grid Task Force and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation, who will give a detailed update; provide more insight into the organisation’s roles and responsibilities, and milestones for the future.”
More top level local energy experts who will address Smart Energy India 2011 include:
• Devender Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power
• Gopal K. Saxena, Chief Executive, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd
• Arup Ghosh, Chief Operating Officer, North Delhi Power Ltd
• Alok Gupta, Chief Engineer, Central Electricity Authority
• K Venugopal, Member, Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission
• V L Sonawane, Member, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
• S R Sethi, Member, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission
• Rajesh Bansal, Chief of Meter Management and Energy Audit, BSES
• Arunabha Basu, Vice President and Head (Technology), North Delhi Power Limited
• Rahul Tongia, Program Director, CSTEP, and Senior Advisor, India Smart Grid Forum
• R K Goyal, Director, Tetra Tech
Conference dates and location:
Conference: 1-2 February 2011, Workshop: 31 January; The Lalit, New Delhi, India.