What's up at Smart Energy International India, 2011

Smart Energy India- the premier energy conference in India, which echos the development of Smart Grid is all set to debut on November 14th, 2011 with a theme "Today's inter-operable solution for tomorrow's integrated grid." According to organizers, "Smart Energy International - India forms part of a global series of events that provides one of the most effective experiential forums available to the electricity utilities industry. Events take place in Australia, Middle East, USA, Canada, Asia and now India. They are an asset that presents you to international markets by connecting global buyers to sellers and people to people in the connected future worldwide! The conference presents Smart Energy India and World Meter Design Congress, which—together with the pre-conference on Smart Cities-will form a unique gathering of international and national experts and market leaders." 

The premier event will be attended by who's who of the industry including Sam Pitroda, adivsor to Prime Minister and convener, Smart Grid India Forum.  The two keynote speakers will present their views on following topics.

 India: Technological advancements and future goals

 By Honorable Mr. P. Umashankar, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India

Interoperability: Tomorrow’s answer today

Mr. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Convener, The Smart Grid India Forum

   Featured Speakers

• Mr. G. V. Balram, Chief General Manager, BESCOM
• Mr. R. K. Goyal, Principal Consultant, Tetratech
• Dr. M. V. Krishna Rao, Director, GECE
• Mr. Harsh Sharma, Vice President - Meters, BSES
• Dr. Rahul Tongia, Director, C-Step

   Key Sessions

• The current state of the Indian Grid – an insight into the transmission and distribution scenarios
• Green Power - Renewable energy Integration in the Smart Grid
• Interoperability in the smart grid – an introduction
• ICT for Smart Distribution Systems – an introduction
• Smart consumer policies for a smarter grid

Apart from the above key highlights, the additional and probably the most exciting thing this year has is Smart Grid technical study tour which will visit Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore providing participants a broader insights of Smart Energy opportunities in India. India intends to provide electricity to every household by 2012, which will require over $100 billion investment in new transmission , distribution, and other related infrastructure representing huge opportunity for investors, companies, and other stakeholders. 

For more program details, use the following links

Website: http://www.smartenergy-india.com

Event Brochure

ZPRYME : Indian Smart Grid market to reach $1.9 billion by 2015

Recently, P. Uma Shankar the Secretary of Power Ministry India said at GridWeek 2011, "Smart Grid is not a luxury, but a necessity for India." Which is indeed true for developing countries like India, where more than 400 million people do not have access to electricity, and so, even miniscule efficiency can make a difference in having electricity or not.  ZPRYME, the leading research and consultancy services organization, in its latest report predicts that Indian Smart Grid market will touch $1.9 billions by 2015. The Indian government has embarked on $900 billion investment in Electrical Infrastructure by 2020 that includes building new transmission and distribution lines, and power generation plants. The research further mentioned that the basic electric infrastructure market will reach to $5.9 billion in the year of 2015. At present, Smart Grid market in India is $1.1 billion and 16.3% CAGR growth is forecasted between 2011 and 2015.

The communication and wireless segment, which in 2011 constitutes $137 millions,  is set to grow fastest  cloaking on average 24.9% CAGR between 2011 and 2015. The Smart metering will grow from $286.6 to $445.5 millions, Sensors from $137 to $236 millions, software & hardware from $247 to $339  millions, and Smart T&D equipment from $234 to $392 millions during the same period.

According to P. Uma Shankar, Indian Smart Grid will have following 6 guiding principles. 

1) Smart Grid will be based on Indian model and will be indigenous 

2) Focused towards Power Shortages

3) Prevent theft and other losses

4) Provides power in rural areas

5) Development of alternative power sources

6) Affordable and enables sustainable production of power

Although, the Smart Grid in India has huge growth potential, there are numerous challenges confronting the modernization of Grid. The Peak demand is outstripping the supply by 7 to 11%; ZPRYME predicts demand to grow 6.0% annually from 885 billion kwh to 1147 billion kwh between 2010 to 2015. Sanjay Seth, Country Manager, Itron India notes, " Currently there are pockets in India that have surplus power, but are unable to sell to deficient regions creating an artificial shortage scenario, Smart Grid technologies can enable utilities demand response mechanism that can curtail power during shortages and avoid blackouts." Apart from shortages, if theft is included, T&D losses amount close to 50%;  the coal power plants, which together with gas supplies 65% of the total energy needs, lags at 27% efficiency compare to western level of 37% efficiency. Electric Infrastructure is not consistent across the nation, and due to local factors, electrical monitoring is imprecise, furthermore, 50 % of the rural area is lacking electricity.  All this results into frequent power outages, heavy losses, and unreliability of grid. Such challenges also provide an opportunity for unique and innovative solution and as India is yet to build large part of the grid, it will have an  opportunity to design and build Smart Grid from scratch, notes Vimal Mahendru, President IEEMA.

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