Bhubaneswar, Sep 19: The requirement and consumption of electrical energy have increased manifold in recent times, with a significant impact on sustainability at the global level. In this context, innovative solutions like the development of microgrids with high renewable integration are the need of the hour, said Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chairman, the Board of Governors, IIT Bhubaneswar.
Addressing the students, faculty members and employees of the institute today, Dr. Singh spoke on the critical role of electrical technology in global sustainability. The talk was organized by the institute as part of the Engineer’s Day celebrations.
Dr. Singh shared his insights on the crucial role of electrical energy in modern society.
He brilliantly showed how an electrical power system is analogous to human body, the heart being the generator, arterial system the grid, blood pressure the voltage, heart rate the frequency,brain the control system and the pacemaker the battery.
Dr. Singh highlighted the pressing challenges posed by climate change, globalization, and population growth, all of which significantly impact electrical power consumption.
He pointed out several factors contributing to the increasing demand for electricity, such as the depletion of coal and oil reserves, the challenges of alternative energy sources like hydropower and nuclear energy, and the rising costs of transmitting power from centralized generation systems.
He also emphasized the growing challenges of power transmission to remote regions and the increasing concerns over system reliability.
In response to these issues, Dr. Singh advocated for the integration of renewable energy and localized energy systems, particularly through solar and wind power, as viable solutions.
He suggested that these approaches could lead to sustainable energy sources, reduced transmission costs, minimized system losses, and a more reliable power supply. Additionally, he underscored the potential of creating networked microgrids and virtual power plants (VPPs) to enhance energy management.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of IIT Bhubaneswar, appreciated Dr. Singh's talk for demonstrating the difference between information and wisdom, and for its effectiveness in getting complex ideas across to a non-specialist audience.
He said, “You can claim to have communication skill if you can explain your technical ideas to your grandmother. Dr Singh demonstrated how this is done. The slides should contain minimal text of large font size. Diagrams are preferred over text. Imaginative analogies and anecdotes should be employed to get across complex ideas. One may think fast but should speak slowly”.
