Mandi : Indian Institute of Technology Mandi concluded the Mega G20-S20 Meet organized from 21st to 30th June 2023. The theme of event’s last event was “Renewable Energy ” that shed light on the critical role of skill development and entrepreneurship in unlocking the potential of renewable energy, specifically in the circular economy of photovoltaic (PV) systems.
The session delved into the significance of circular economy principles, emphasizing resource optimization, recycling, and sustainable practices, in order to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of the PV industry in India. It also highlighted solutions for increasing sustainable energy availability and opportunities for skill-building and entrepreneurial endeavors in this transformative sector to all G20 nation citizens through insightful discussions with industry leaders, academic experts, administrators, and decision-makers from various Government bodies.
Speaking during his inaugural address, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi, said, “IIT Mandi is committed to green and renewable energy with a focus on sustainable development. I welcome all the guests and participants and I look forward to the deliberations to create a knowledge pool for the betterment of our environment and a sustainable future.”
While speaking at the event Chief Guest Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Chair S20 and Former DST Secretary, Govt. of India, said, “We are living in a complex world where we have seen the rise of intelligent machines, sustainable development, invention to innovation, and, inclusion & diversity. But considering that science, as usual, will not be able to solve future global challenges, we need disruptive science for sustainable development. Creation of knowledge and consumption of knowledge are essential but sustainability of knowledge is equally important to move forward.”
Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, highlighted the role of Hydrogen in future Renewable Energy Mix and emphasized on how we can work collaboratively to develop advanced technologies to achieve this common goal.
Speaking at the event Dr. Kingshuk Banerjee, Director R&D, Hitachi India, said, “In a technology-driven world, we need to focus on Sustainability, Renewable Energy and Circular Economy. We need to work towards decarbonizing for a circular economy with the integration of sensors for recycling. Also, Climate change is a major global challenge and to address this we need a sustainable approach and promote social development, without endangering life on Earth and without compromising resources for future generations.”
The One-day conclave on Renewable Energy included multiple guest talks from the public and private bodies on the importance of importance of advancing skills and entrepreneurship in the PV System circular economy. These included:
- Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee
- Dr. Y J Park, India Korea Center for Research, and Innovation (IKCRI)
- Mr. Arpit Sharma, COO, Skill Council for Green Jobs
- Dr. Bineesha P, DST Technology Development program
- Dr. Ranganayakulu Bodavala, Founder of Hoshang Patel Tech Centre
- Ms. Preeti, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt of India
With India’s ambitious goal of achieving a significant share of renewable energy in its overall energy mix, this session investigated how developing skilled professionals and encouraging entrepreneurship can accelerate PV system adoption and growth. The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities for large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy.
IIT Mandi is actively engaged in renewable energy research and development across several fields. Their efforts cover many topics, including bioenergy, solar energy, and geothermal energy generation. The researchers at IIT Mandi are also working to advance energy storage technology, focusing on batteries, supercapacitors, and efficient energy storage management systems.
This all-encompassing approach to renewable energy spans the entire value chain. The activity of IIT Mandi extends from the earliest stages of manufacture through the succeeding stages of implementation, installation, operation, and maintenance. They also prioritize technology end-of-life management, using life cycle evaluations to ensure sustainable practices are in place.
IIT Mandi contributes considerably to advancing sustainable energy solutions by tackling diverse areas of renewable energy and combining them into a comprehensive framework.
