Student Chapter Activities

Energy Management App Development

In this Covid-19 stricken scenario the world has gone digital. Unimaginable things are now can be performed from home while maintaining social distance. AEE IISWBM Kolkata Chapter India has always been supportive and encouraging its students to do something new and refreshing every year. In this regard Arpita Dey, The Vice president of AEE IISWBM Kolkata Student Chapter, had developed an App namely "Ojas ARD Tech" and available in Google Play Store. She has been constantly encouraged and guided by our AEE Kolkata/IISWBM chapter members specially our treasurer Ms. Piyali Sengupta to pursue her dream.

The developed App "Ojas ARD Tech" has various menus like ENERGYK, WISDOM, E-NEWS, YOUTUBE, GALLERY, ENERGY WINDOW and QR/BAR CODE reader. Latest uncommon uses of energy can be found in ENERGYK section and various write ups in WISDOM section which has been collected from various Industry veterans. We can get various energy related information here in E-NEWS, scan all universal bar codes and QR codes and share the information in social media. The important eBooks of BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) are also available online in this application. We can also access Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) websites via this application and we can easily register and login into their website.

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Aee Talk - Employment Opportunity In Energy Sector

15th May, 2021 at 10:00 - 13:00 Hrs

The International Webinar under the aegis of AEE-IISWBM Kolkata Chapter had started with Secretary Ms. Rikta Mishra, MBA (Energy Management), 2020-22 requesting Prof. (Dr) K. M. Agrawal to announce the webinar open. Prof. (Dr) K. M. Agrawal, Vice-President, AEE-India Chapter and with a warm welcome message to the Panel Discussion members, AEE-India members, academic fraternity of IISWBM Kolkata and student members of IISWBM and other AEE student members across India and other global locations had announced the webinar opened.

Followed by, Prof. B. K. Choudhury, AEE Assistant Director, Asia Sub Continent, AEE, USA had introduced IISWBM, Kolkata to the panel members and the participants with a brief history about its establishment way back in 1953 as India's first Management Institute. Lauding about subsequent credentials about IISWBM, Prof. Choudhury had said that IISWBM was the mentor institute to IIM-Calcutta and later to ISM Dhanbad. Professor had also elaborated activities under AEE IISWBM Kolkata chapter to the participants.

Further during the program, Ms. Arpita Dey MBA (Energy Management) 2019-21 had explained about her contribution to the AEE-India Chapter with her meticulously developed AEE-IISWBM mobile app i.e. "Ojas ARD Tech", with different windows featuring AEE activities, AEE-IISWBM Magazine Energy Window, Energy News content, Energy specific learning video data base and other important knowledge sources.

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After these introductory activities, upon request, Prof. (Dr.) Saumitra Mukhopadhyay had taken the Chair of Moderator and had conducted the further proceedings.

The first Panel Member, Ms. Mohua Mukherjee, Advisor, India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), India had delivered talk on Employment Opportunities in Transforming Energy Sector. In her opening remarks, Ms. Mohua had given insights about possibly a complete transformation of electrification, be it in the domain of Transportation, Water distribution system, building energy efficiency management or other infrastructure developments including virtual power grids. The speaker had identified key changes that could be envisaged include, Power sector reliability, role of IoT in managing Energy efficiency, addressing the most challenging issue of Climate change and role of low-cost computing towards energy data analytics and decision making. Madam Mohua had specifically advised the student community to acquire multidisciplinary talent that could be the key towards employability. Ms. Mohua had also introduced key 5-D framework that consist of Decarbonatization - Decentralisation - Digitalization - Demand disruption - Disintermediation. Though first 4-Ds are easily interpretable, Disintermediation is about role of crowd funding in the installation of home solar energy generating solutions without usual role of financial institutions like banks. In order to push effective monitoring of power line infrastructure and management, Mohua was of the view that unmanned drones could become a usual feature in the days to come. Additional emphasis was given on integration of Power generation - transmission and distribution where, prosumer, an entity that is both the power producer and consumer could be order of the day. Job-optimization could be possible at sub-stations, where prosumers should be playing an important role as hybrid power producers.

Identifying possible jobs for Energy Engineers and Managers, Mohua had listed out Smart city, regional cooling systems, Energy Conservation code and its implementation for residential infrastructures, role of virtual power plants that is, Giga factories, etc to be the future possibilities. In addition, rural energy needs and cyber security of virtual power grids might become added employability opportunities of the future.

The second panel discussion member, Kaushik Bhattacharya had discussed about What is Driving Energy Management - The big Picture. Kaushik had taken base information for North American States and Canada while anticipating similar driving forces for Indian subcontinent. Citing some future scenarios, Kaushik had identified high possibilities for employability in the sectors like, Green Building Movement, Utilities and other incentive groups, Cost effective for businesses, access to technology and corporate social responsibility across the globe in the near future. Followed by, Utilities and other incentive groups might ease consumer's mundane jobs through energy saving service activities. Cost effective business activities and with access to technology, more opportunities would emerge. However, in spite of the growth using technology, the mandatory corporate social responsibility will remain pivotal while addressing energy sector related employment opportunities. Emphasizing about net zero clause among housing and industrial corridors, these high paying jobs would also be instrumental while achieving time-bound targets in managing energy efficiency. According to Kaushik, Big Data would also be an important component in the future job scenarios.

In order to remain relevant with changing industry conditions, Kaushik had listed different software the young generation should start focusing. The first, eQUEST, an MS-Excel based Energy Efficiency assessment tool could be of an immense help to take a plunge and learn by oneself. The speaker had also advised to apply the software learnings on to the IISWBM institute building itself. The second software Kaushik had introduced to the participants is, RETSCREEN. Though initially available as free download, the terms and conditions have since changed. However, Kaushik had specifically recommended the students to start practicing this software. Using CUSUM technique, building energy information system could be improved and energy efficiency could substantially be achieved over the time. In the end, Kaushik had advised to follow the handbook Commercial Energy Auditing - A Reference Book thoroughly.

Continuing the webinar, the third speaker Anil Garg, a BEE certified Energy auditor, was of the view that employability skills obtained through on-job activities can not be compensated through regular education, and hence, practical exposure is mandatory.

Regarding employability opportunities, Mr. Anil had emphasized report preparation towards internal auditor mechanism. Desired skills for Energy Management Professional include preparation for annual Energy Management Plan, Conduction of Energy Revisions, Measurement & Verification, report follow-up, its implementation etc .to anticipate satisfactory outcomes.

While answering some of the questions, Anil had shared his wisdom on economic cost under the head, high capital cost with the implementation of mandatory energy efficiency code, whereas, the operational expenses would remain minimal or zero. Secondly, Anil had shown the importance of IoT in smart metering. Accessing to consumer's behavioural pattern, IoT could be suggesting more customized energy efficiency measures.

On the fourth and the last speaker Dr. Saptarshi Ghosh had imitated his talk on how the old school emphasis on food, shelter and cloth needs to bechanged to food - shelter - cloth and energy. Since energy being one of the fundamental necessities of the mankind, energy storage devices could be of immense help into the future. Elaborating on how emerging technologies have brought different types of batteries and their relevance as energy storage assets, Dr. Ghosh had shown how cost of the batteries have been declining with improved technology and opening of global opportunities. With the call for Production Linked Incentive for Advanced Chemistry Cell and budgetary allocation of 81,100 crore over the next 5 years by the Union Government, the battery manufacturing could be very lucrative to the young generation.

After Panel discussions, Dr. Arindam Dutta, Faculty, Department of Energy Management, IISWBM had announced AEE-IISWBM Kolkata Chapter Scholarship winners for the year 2019-21.

The batch 2020-22 congratulate Ms. Arpita Dey, Tanushree Hansda for being recognized by Energy Engineers by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEWI). AEE-IISWBM Student Chapter also congratulates Arijit Das, Joydeep Dutta, Arijit Chattopadhyay, Sayantan Ganguly, Pushpak Ghosh and Debajyoti Mallick for securing AEE Scholarship.

Dr. Arindam Dutta had also explained different certificate courses from Department of Energy, IISWBM for Working Executives to secure Energy Auditing related practices.

Vote of thanks was given by Professor (Ms) Piyali Sengupta, Treasurer, AEE-IISWBM Kolkata Chapter.

After all the technical sessions, winners for Case writing competition and Essay writing competitions were announced by Arindam Das, MBA (Energy Management) 2020-22, Vice President, AEE-IISWBM.

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Through all the years from inception and inclusion of students in the AEE-India chapter, they have been an integral part and through several coordinated activities they have fulfilled all responsibilities, often voluntarily to uphold the name of the chapter. EnCon, an event organized on the observance of Energy Conservation Day on 14th December, 2019 by the final year students, AEE student chapter members, saw delegates from several verticals of work and diverse work culture gather, and share their views & innovative strides that could be made towards Future Energy Mix in India and Sustainability chairing Padma Shri Prof. Ajoy Kumar Roy as the chief guest and other eminent speakers in multiple interactive sessions throughout the day. The 23rd Volume of the Energy Window had been published on the very day with articles from Mr. Ratul Chakrabarty (Secretary, AEE-Kolkata Student Chapter), Dr. Binoy Krishna Chowdhury (Vice-President, AEE-Kolkata Chapter), Dr. Krishna Murari Agrawal (Vice-President, AEE - Kolkata Chapter) & others.

Few of the student members of AEE/IISWBM-Kolkata Student Members are also taking part in the formulation of ESIA-ESMP for "West Bengal Electricity Distribution Grid Modernization Project" of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), funded by The World Bank. This project aims at conversion of existing Low-Tension overhead lines to underground electrical cable network and High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) along with setting up of Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) in selected districts and towns of West Bengal. This project will take into account the various modernization measures for increasing the efficiency of the grid, including relocation of Transformers near Load Centers, upgrading transformer capacity and increasing the insulation of the line through use of AB cables, maintenance of defective poles and meters along with integration of new connections to ensure uninterrupted power supply (24X7) with engagement of the students in field visits and discussions on public platforms.

The student chapter members consisting of Ataus Samad, Arghya Majumder, Tamal Kanti Das, Tuhin Ghosh, Anirban Dey, Rudra Kabi, Ratul Ghosh led to organize Energia 2k19 hosting around 200 students from multiple reputed colleges in inter & intra college events to increase the awareness in the domain of energy management & the part they could play as young professionals. The chapter also boasts of hosting Dr. Ashok Sarkar, Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank, Washington DC, USA who delivered a special lecture on

LEAPFROGGING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPLEMENTATION IN INDIA: DRAWING FROM GLOBAL STRATEGIES, EXPERIENCES, AND BEST PRACTICES.