Title: Role of Renewables in Energy Transition
Dr. Ramakrishna Kappagantu
Former Region10 Director
Dr. Ramakrishna Kappagantu possesses 36 years of rich experience in Indian Power Sector Viz NTPC and PGCIL. His experience includes development of first successful Pilot Project of Smart Grid at Puducherry, India and management of 50GW South Indian Grid, its associated Transmission System, Real Time Operations, SCADA-EMS & Power Markets.
Having publications in various international Journals & Conferences, he is an invited speaker at many Industries, Academic, Research and Training Institutes. His interests include Power System Operation & Economics, Energy Accounts & Audit, Regulatory Affairs, SCADA- EMS, Smart Grids and Renewables.
With B.E. in Electrical Engineering from MNIT, Jaipur, he completed M.Tech. (Automation & Control) from JNTU, Hyderabad and Advance Diploma in Management & Human Resources. He got a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from NIT, Tiruchirappalli on Smart (GRID) Distribution Systems.
He is a versatile speaker and loves Indian Classical Music. He works for embedding Human Values in Technology & Management and strongly opines that values induction alone drives the technology growth for benefit of Humanity.
He is Life Fellow and a Chartered Engineer of Institution of Engineers(India). Volunteering for over 25 years and as Senior Member for more than 30 years in IEEE, PES and HKN, he served IEEE from 1990 in various capacities including IEEE Board Member, & Delegate in 2015-16 as Region10 (Asia-Pacific) Director. Currently he is on the Governing Board of IEEE Power & Energy Society as Region10 Representative besides providing independent consulting in his day Job.
His relentless efforts for IEEE’s Technical & Humanitarian Activities fetched him, 2010-IEEE Outstanding Volunteer Awards from Region10 & Bangalore Section, 2011-IEEE MGA Achievement, 2012-IEEE PES Bangalore Chapter Outstanding Engineer, 2014-IEEE MGA Innovation, 2017-MGA Larry K Wilson Transnational Award, 2020-India Council Life time Achievement Award and 2021-Bangalore Section Medal of Honour.
The transition into Green Energy by Design: Opportunities and Challenges
Dr. Ng Sing Muk
Head of Research and Development, Sarawak Energy
Dr Ng is the Head of Research and Development at Sarawak Energy, a vertically integrated power utility company that serves the state of Sarawak in Malaysia.
In this role, he spearheads technology innovation across key areas such as clean energy exploration, energy management, grid solutions, environmental sciences, and autonomous and robotic technology. Currently, his main focus is to advance technological development to support the energy transition agenda.
Prior to joining Sarawak Energy, Dr Ng was the Executive Director at the School of Research at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak. His technical research focuses on sensors and remote monitoring, where he has developed novel sensing materials and nanomaterials, integrated portable sensor devices, and correlated arrays of sensing signals into new applications.
Beyond his technical interests, Dr Ng is passionate about translating research into practical applications and research of leading organisations towards innovation and strategy in the age of technological disruption.
Abstract
This presentation explores the urgent need for transitioning to renewable energy and its rationale, in response to the undeniable impacts of climate change caused primarily by fossil fuel emissions. The shift to renewable energy sources is imperative for sustainable development and this energy transition must be implemented strategically in stages, starting with low-carbon energy options and progressing to clean renewable energy.
The transition must be by design and consider the specific context, available resources, and harnessing technology rather than mimicking successful models from other nations.
Innovation is key to optimising the best technology to generate energy from local renewable resources, often abundant but of lower capacity in nature. This is followed by dispatching the energy for impactful utilisation with the best efficiency. Meanwhile, hybrid technology offers advantages by combining functionalities within the same system, using fewer resources. Leveraging mature technologies from other disciplines, such as digital and robotic solutions with smart features, can enhance energy management efficiency.
However, the journey is not without challenges as the scale of transition is significant with limited support in infrastructure and facilities for innovation. This is also paired with high upfront investment for renewable energy projects and a shortage of expertise. Addressing these challenges through strategic planning and collaborative efforts will be crucial to achieving a sustainable energy future.