IIT Roorkee hosts international workshop on hydrokinetic technology

NEW DELHI: The Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) organized an international workshop on hydrokinetic technology under its Centre of Excellence research and development initiative. The event attracted over 45 participants from various parts of India, and featured four prominent international speakers from Canada, Norway, Malaysia, and Germany who joined online to share their research.

Sangita Kasture, adviser, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), inaugurated the workshop and praised both the participants and organizers for their dedication to promoting carbon-neutral and eco-friendly technologies. Sangita Kasture, said, "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."

Participation from government entities

As per the IIT Roorkee press release, the workshop saw participation from various government entities including MNRE, UJVNL, DIBER-DRDO, and NVVNL-NTPC, as well as leading manufacturers and industry stakeholders 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. Additionally, academic institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, SCET Surat, BBEC Assam, and BITS Pilani showcased their latest research on hydrokinetic energy designs.

Sessions on hydrokinetic technologies

During the workshop, participants took part in various sessions on a range of topics, such as an overview of hydrokinetic technology, methods for evaluating hydrokinetic site potential, and presentations of both existing and future hydrokinetic technologies by delegates from India and abroad.

Economic discussions

As per the IIT Roorkee press release, the workshop underscored the societal impact and significance of hydrokinetic technology, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize energy generation with a minimal environmental footprint. This clean and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources can provide reliable electricity to remote and underserved communities, thereby promoting energy equity. Economic discussions highlighted the technology's role in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.

Experts stressed the need for continued research to address deployment barriers and enhance technical aspects such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and design efficiency. As per the university release, Reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 by 2030 will not only advance the technology but also ensure its scalability and community-level integration, fostering economic growth, job creation, and a sustainable future.

Talking about the workshop, KK 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."