The Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee successfully hosted an international workshop on hydrokinetic technology as part of its Centre of Excellence R&D initiative. This event featured over 45 participants from across India, with four distinguished international speakers from Canada, Norway, Malaysia, and Germany joining online to present their pioneering research.
Dr. Sangita Kasture, Adviser, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), inaugurated the workshop and lauded the participants and organizers for their commitment to advancing carbon-neutral and environmentally friendly technologies.
Dr. Sangita Kasture, Adviser, MNRE, remarked, “This workshop is a testament to the innovative spirit and dedication of the participants and organizers. The discussions and findings presented here will significantly contribute to making hydrokinetic technology a viable and reliable renewable energy source.”
Participants included representatives from various government bodies such as MNRE, UJVNL, DIBER-DRDO, and NVVNL-NTPC, alongside leading manufacturers and industry players like the Canadian Hydrokinetic Turbine Test Center, Energyminer, Tidal Sails, TERI, Kirloskar Brothers Group, Swasti Power Pvt. Ltd., Flovel Energy Pvt. Ltd., Maini Renewables, and MACLEC Pvt. Ltd. Academic institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, SCET Surat, BBEC Assam, and BITS Pilani also presented their latest research findings on hydrokinetic energy designs.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in insightful sessions covering various themes, including an overview of hydrokinetic technology, methodologies for assessing hydrokinetic site potential, and demonstrations of both current and future hydrokinetic technologies by Indian and international delegates.
The workshop highlighted the significant societal impact and importance of hydrokinetic technology, showcasing its potential to revolutionize energy generation with minimal environmental footprint. By offering a clean and sustainable alternative to conventional energy sources, hydrokinetic technology can provide reliable electricity to remote and underserved communities, thus promoting energy equity. The economic discussions emphasized the role of this technology in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. Experts underscored the necessity for further research to overcome deployment barriers and enhance technical aspects like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and design efficiency. Achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 by 2030 will not only advance the technology but also ensure its scalability and integration at the community level, driving economic growth, job creation, and a sustainable future. IIT Roorkee’s commitment to this innovative field underscores its pivotal role in fostering renewable energy solutions and environmental stewardship.
Prof. Arun Kumar, Prof. C. S. Pant, and Prof MK Singhal , along with a dedicated team of researchers, were instrumental in organizing this impactful workshop.
Prof. Arun Kumar stated, “The workshop demonstrated the critical role that collaborative research and industry partnerships play in advancing hydrokinetic technology. Our collective efforts will pave the way for sustainable and renewable energy solutions.”
Talking about the workshop, Prof. K.K. Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, said, “We are proud to host such significant events that foster innovation and collaboration. IIT Roorkee is committed to driving forward the development of sustainable technologies that will benefit society at large.”
The event concluded with a proposal to create a joint platform among participating institutions and organizations to address holistic approaches and ensure the reliable deployment of Hydrokinetic Technology (HKT) as a sustainable energy source.
