CONTEXT

India has recently unveiled its National Action Plan on Climate Change developed by the office of the Prime Minister. Use of Renewable energy is the core element of this action plan and its eight missions. Deployment of renewable energy is just more than issue of climate change. India stands to revolutionalize the way it generates transports and use the energy for the development and well being of the people. The technologies in the field of renewable energy are advancing fast and government policies are creating enabling conditions for its societal penetration.  It is unique opportunity in green economy and sustainable development. Without adequate skilled human resources in the field of technology, operation and maintenance India is unlikely to derive full and fast benefit from this green business opportunity.

NEED

The renewable energy business in India till now is built mainly on the financial incentives by the government and innovative Indian entrepreneurs. It has resulted in mixed success to manufacture and install renewable energy equipment in commercial and residential properties. A large and expanding stock of renewable energy devices many of which are aging, non-performing and new will require repair and maintenance. Currently skilled engineers and technicians to carry out these essential tasks are inadequate.

The pace of development of the new technologies in renewable energy is accelerating. The technologists in India need to keep pace with these developments and even surpass it by leveraging its knowledge power for which India is known for.

THE CONFERENCE

Scheduled just days after the UN global meeting of the world leaders on the future of the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen , this conference would discuss and take forward the important outcomes of the Copenhagen meeting. The Indian subcontinent has been identified as the most rapidly expanding market for renewable energies. This conference will tackle the pressing issues raised at Copenhagen in a location –Pune-which will doubtless be a nucleus of renewable energy development in the near future.

OBJECTIVE

The National Action Plan on Climate Change of India states that: “Technology transfer in both Solar Thermal technologies and the PV technologies will be required in respect of cost-effective and efficient technologies suitable for use in India . Support to commercial demonstration by entrepreneurs of Solar Thermal and Solar PV, both stand-alone and distributed generation systems, in particular in remote locations, and using these as training facilities for local entrepreneurs and O&M personnel would also help develop this sector.

Cooperative approaches by the government and industry are needed to enhance awareness of energy-efficient options, and upgrade relevant technical knowledge. The financial sector also needs capacity building in appraisal of specific energy efficiency improvement investments in existing industries.”

The conference would initiate the intent of the Action Plan including creation of the new workforce in Green Economy to help implement the “National Action Plan on Climate Change”. The National Action Plan on Climate change also states that in “specific areas of both solar thermal and solar PV systems, it would be useful to enter into collaboration with institutions working elsewhere,” One of the objectives of this conference is to start such collaboration.

The conference in particular would marks the commencement of a project which will see the creation of a renewable energy centre that will support the training and development of this much needed workforce and ensure the continued penetration of sustainable energy provision into this expansive market.

Conference would be the launching pad for the capacity building for the human resources in India , particularly:

• Identifying the areas for developing skilled man and woman power in the field of technology development, operation and maintenance of the renewable energy equipment.
• Initiating the cooperation between India and Italy in the field of Human resource development and technology transfer in renewable energy.
• Launching the first capacity building programmes in the operation and maintenance of the already installed equipment.
• Planning for the capacity building for future renewable energy advances in India .
• Explore and plan for the opportunities for the gainful employment of the rural youth and Small and medium scale industries in renewable energy.

PROGRAMME:

Sessions in Renewable Energy Technologies:

Photovoltaic -house electrical systems
Thermal solar -heating and  cooling systems
Wind power -installation and maintenance of small and big wind mills
Biomass -use of domestic and agriculture waste
Air Conditioning –innovative AC applications with energy efficiency

The above technologies will be discussed in reference to the following topics:

• Understanding the real physical and practical limits on available resources for solar, wind, bio-energy and geothermal.
• Comparison and choosing between Renewable Energies.
• Installing renewable energy equipment correctly.
• Maintaining domestic and commercial renewable energy equipment to ensure system energy optimization.
• Refurbishing old renewable energy equipment with new high efficiency components and the resultant payback time.
• Integrating renewable and traditional energy within heating and cooling systems.
• Energy efficiency in buildings: systems, structure and insulation.
• Investment potential for both the economy and the environment.
• Green Business opportunities for the rural youth and small business.
• Discussion and Presentation of Renewable Energy Training Centre in India .

Throughout the conference and during the final session there will be a strong focus on the practical aspects of renewable energies, and provide a flavour of what the delegate and their associates can learn by undertaking the courses at the Renewable Energy Training Centre, India .