The Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) recently organized a successful international workshop on hydrokinetic technology, part of its Centre of Excellence R&D initiative. The event attracted over 45 participants from various parts of India and featured presentations from four esteemed international speakers from Canada, Norway, Malaysia, and Germany, who joined the workshop online to share their groundbreaking 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 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”.
The workshop brought together representatives from various government bodies, including MNRE, UJVNL, DIBER-DRDO, and NVVNL-NTPC. It also featured key manufacturers and industry leaders such as 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. Additionally, academic institutions like IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, SCET Surat, BBEC Assam, and BITS Pilani presented their latest research 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 underscored the significant societal impact and importance of hydrokinetic technology, emphasizing its potential to transform energy generation with a minimal environmental footprint. By providing a clean and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources, hydrokinetic technology has the potential to deliver reliable electricity to remote and underserved communities, thereby advancing energy equity. Economic discussions highlighted the technology’s role in reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. Experts stressed the need for further research to address deployment challenges and improve technical aspects such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and design efficiency. Achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 by 2030 will not only propel the technology forward but also ensure its scalability and community integration, fostering economic growth, job creation, and a sustainable future. IIT Roorkee’s dedication to this innovative field emphasizes its crucial role in advancing renewable energy solutions and environmental stewardship.
Prof. Arun Kumar, Prof. C. S. Pant, and Prof MK Singhal, along with a dedicated research team, played a key role 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”.
