Annual Report April 2006 to March 2007 Energy Systems Engineering

IIT Bombay offers an interdisciplinary course in Energy Systems Engineering (ESE) leading to M.Tech. and Ph.D. degree. The programme is aimed a providing high quality innovators/engineers with an understanding of energy systems, who can contribute meaningfully to the nations energy sector. It is expected that rapid growth of the energy sector and the challenges imposed by energy resource constraints will need specially qualified engineers with ability to under stand and analyse energy systems. The Energy Systems Engineering programme at IIT Bombay was initiated in 1981. About 280 alumni of the programme are currently working in various positions in industry and research institutes.

The course is inter-disciplinary in nature where students and faculty members are from diverse engineering (energy, mechanical, chemical, electrical etc) and science (physics, chemistry etc.) disciplines. During the programme the students are exposed to core areas of energy management including energy auditing; energy systems modeling and analysis; and non-conventional energy sources. In addition, students take elective courses in their area of specialization. The programme also has an option of specialization in nuclear power with interaction with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The Energy Systems Engineering programme interacts with the industry, research institutions and policy makers for developing and promoting efficient and clean technologies in the country. These interactions are in the form of consultancy and sponsored projects, seminars and workshops

The program is well recognized by the industry with fellowships and sponsorship from Forbes Marshall, ONGC, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Cummins and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Forbes Marshall and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board AERB offer sponsorships attached to placement in their respective organizations. In the 2006 batch, 30 M.Tech. students were admitted to the M.Tech. programme.

In this year the Board of Governors of IIT Bombay approved the growth of Energy Systems Engineering into a Department of Energy Science and Engineering. The department is starting an integrated M.Sc.-Ph. D. programme in Energy with admission through JAM from 2007. The Department plans to start a Dual Degree (B.Tech. –M.Tech.) Programme in Energy Systems Engineering from 2008

In this year three new faculty members joined the group with specialisation in fuel cells, hydrogen storage, electro chemistry and solar energy.

Energy Systems Engineering celebrated Energy Day on 30th March 2007 at F. C. Kohli Auditorium KReSIT. About 200 delegates from various industries and organizations attended the research presentations of the final year graduating ESE students. ESE also started the first National Conference on ‘Advances in Energy Research’ during December 3-4, 2006. The conference had about 91 delegates, 55 oral presentations, 36 poster presentations. The conference papers were brought about in the form of proceedings published by MacMillan India.

Panel discussion on “Energy Research in India. The concluding session of the conference scheduled a Prof. Kirit Parikh, Member Planning Commission; Shri. V. Subramanian, Secretary MNRE; Dr. Naushad Forbes, CEO, Forbes Mrshall and Dr. K. Subramanya, COO, Tata BP Solar and Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, DST

Hon'ble Minister Shri Vilas Muttemwar, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (formerly "Non-conventional Energy Sources") Govt. of India, released a publication titled "Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings", at a function held on 3rd November, 2006 at IIT Bombay.