The Electrical Engineering discipline of the institute organised a two-day workshop on Design, Optimisation and Data-driven Applications of Smart Energy System during February 18-19 as part of the DST- UKIERI (Department of Science and Technology – UK-India Education and Research Initiative) collaborative project titled Data-driven Intelligent Energy Management for Environmentally Sustainable Energy Access (D-DIEM). The workshop, inaugurated on February 18, brings together academic researchers and industrialists to exchange key ideas and share knowledge on the subjects related to the application of modeling, optimisation and data sciences for smart energy systems.

Dr Naran Pindoriya, associate professor, Electrical Engineering, IITGN introduced the participants with the idea that how this dialogue between industry and academia will facilitate research for smart energy systems. Prof Amit Prashant, dean R&D, IITGN, emphasised the importance of industry-academia interaction for sustainable energy solutions. Dr Aristides Kiprakis, a senior lecturer in power systems and Leader of the Smart Grids Research Group at the University of Edinburgh, UK gave keynote address and context of the D-DIEM project which is about using big data science for power systems to bring more affordable, reliable energy systems for people, especially in rural areas. Mr R B Patel, chief engineer (Tech), GUVNL and head, Gujarat Power Research & Development (GPRD) Cell, highlighted activities of power sector in Gujarat and expressed hope that this workshop will help in overcoming challenges faced by the industry through research collaborations.

A number of technical lectures highlighted the current challenges, the ongoing work and recent achievements in the research areas of power networks & microgrids, information & communication technologies and big data science, specifically focusing on their application on smart grids for sustainable, affordable and reliable energy supply.

This open public workshop was attended by eminent academia researchers from India and the UK, including University of Edinburgh, Queen’s University and MMM University of Technology, Gorakhpur. Industry leaders such as GUVNL and GPRD Cell, Gujarat Electricity Regulation Commission (GERC), Harikrupa Automation Pvt Ltd. also participated in the workshop.