The ITCS unit of National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) had successfully organized the 12th International Training Programme on “Wind Turbine Technology and Applications” during 19th November to 12th December 2014 to address all aspects of harnessing energy from Wind Power.
The course has imparted through various technical sessions covering introduction to wind and its technology, wind resource assessment, installation, operation and maintenance aspects of wind farms along with financial analysis and benefits of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India had sponsored this special training course under Africa India Forum Summit – II (AIFS – II) programme which was supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. The Embassies and High Commissions of India in respective participant’s countries have invited application and cleared necessary formalities, enabling the participants to attend the course after the selection by NIWE and sanction by Eastern & Southern Africa Division of MEA, New Delhi.
Shri. Benedikt Anselman, Vice President, TUV Rhineland (India) has inaugurated the training course programme as Guest of Honour and addressed the gathering in presence of Dr. S. Gomathinayagam, Director General of National Institute for Wind Energy and Shri. P. Kanagavel, Course Coordinator and Additional Director & Head, ITCS.
To enhance visualization of the training inputs in depth “Course Material” was prepared with write ups collected from all the faculties of the course. The Guest of Honour has released the Course Material.
The programme was designed and intended to bring awareness and knowledge for decision makers, project managers, scientists, engineers, manufacturers, project developers and project evaluators, NGOs, energy service companies, consultants, developers, equipment suppliers, distributors, students, faculties, Research Scholars, academicians, Government / Ministerial official and media personnel. The course was also useful for technicians and industrialists already engaged in the wind energy.
The faculty for the course was eminent scientists, engineers and other wind energy professionals with years of experience on wind turbine industries from NIWE, manufacturers, developers, consultants and academicians. During the course duration of 24 days, subject experts have presented forty seven classroom lectures along with case studies apart from practical training, field & factory visits to facilitate a comprehensive knowledge transfer to the participants.
The practical sessions were conducted in the NIWE campus on Wind Resource Assessment, Instrumentation, Testing, Research & Development and equipment as well as in the wind farm field to supplement the lectures on the technology.
Energetic young and experienced Twenty one participants from 8 countries Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania have attended the training programme having diverse background such as engineering, information technology, environmental science, natural resource management, agricultural engineering and forestry. Professional levels of the participants range from vocational skill development teachers, engineers and scientific officers as well as officers of ministerial service in the energy sector.
As part of the study visits schedules, all the participants witnessed Wind Turbine Test Station (WTTS) and Wind Turbine Research Station (WTRS) of NIWE at Kayathar and found it was highly useful as they had firsthand knowledge on small and large wind turbine testing process. Besides visiting wind farms in and around Kayathar and Kanyakumari, they have also visited substation of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and discovered distribution of power from wind turbine to grid.
 |
 |
| Visiting to TNEB Substation | Learning about Gear box maintenance |
 |
 |
| Participants climb the wind Meteorological Mast at WTRS, Kayathar | |
Participants visited Kanyakumari during the field study visit and rejoiced at Cape Comerin (southern tip of India) as it was so exciting to the participants such as seeing the sunrise and sunset and cultural visits which showcased the spiritual heritage of India.
To obtain hands on experience, all the participants visited Gamesa Large Wind Turbine Manufacturing factory at Mamandur where they listened to the industry experts who are actually engaged in the process of making and assembling wind turbines and had a good discussion on various issues regarding manufacturing of Wind Turbines. Participants interacted with industrial stakeholders on the initiatives of wind turbine and energy profile in Africa continent.
Shri. Alok Ranjan Jha, Deputy Secretary, Eastern & Southern Africa Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India was the Chief Guest for the valedictory function. The Chief Guest has congratulated entire team of NIWE for conducting such an innovative programme that fetches greater benefits to the developing countries of African continent as it has high energy deficiency. He has also felicitated the participants and respective countries for using such opportunities to increase green energy benefit to their countries. He also pointed out the benefit of the Africa India Forum Summit – II (AIFS – II) programme and distributed the course certificates to the participants.
In the valedictory function, Director General, Dr. S. Gomathinaygam, requested the participants of the training programme to be the ambassadors of Green Energy in the midst of lowering price of oil barrels in the world market as it will accelerate the catastrophe of Climate Change and also encouraged and congratulated the coordinating team and members of NIWE for facilitating such a highly beneficial training programme for promoting Green Energy.
The course structure and organization of training programme was highly appreciated by the participants. Participants have expressed their satisfaction as the course provided an overall understanding of the subjects on wind turbine technology and its applications as well as nitty-gritty of the sector. The feedbacks revealed that NIWE team should conduct such kind of training programmes outside of India to share the knowledge on wind turbine technology, in participants’ countries to benefit more number of people and participants found this course was highly adaptive and hoping to shape up the policies of the respective country on renewable energy sector.
