Chennai: The 8th edition of Tan Energy Summit 2018 on the theme Making
Smart Energy A Reality opened here on Tuesday on a promising note with
Md Nasimuddin, Principal Secretary, Energy Department, Government of
Tamil Nadu, stressing on the need to build a robust grid system for
traditional and renewable energy on the lines of countries like
Germany, Elaborating on the aspect of India’s potential in harnessing renewable
energy’ both through solar, wind and other modes, he said that all
this should be made possible without any disruption to the normal
system.

Dwelling at length on the devastation caused by Cyclone Gaja to
several districts in Tamil Nadu, particularly the coastal and delta
regions, Nasimuddin noted that the time had come to strengthen our
electrical cable systems in the wake of enormous destruction caused to
2.25 lakh electric poles in those regions during the calamity.
“We have learnt a lesson for redesigning and reinforcing the electric
poles,”

He wanted everything should be made viable in energy production with
proper integration of traditional and renewable ones apart from the
creation of a smart and robust grid system as the government would be
ever willing to help all the stakeholders on that count.
“The work is happening to systemise for an equitable distribution of
energy so that everyone could be benefited as also energy at
affordable rates with the help of Tangedco, The government and FICCI
can work together toward realizing the common goal,” he said.
M Nandakumar, Convenor, Energy Panel, FICCI TNSC & Managing Director,
EDAC Engineering, in his theme address, said that the theme of the
summit centred around smart energy which would benefit the
environment. “The renewable energy sector has the potential to create an economy
of dollar 12 trillion, besides providing jobs to millions of people in
the long run apart from business opportunities to several
stakeholders,” he said.

M Umapathi, Chairman & Managing Director, Voltech Group, said Tamil
Nadu had already become a surplus energy state thanks to the
involvement of renewable energy to a great extent.
`If renewable energy is harnessed properly in Tamil Nadu, we can sell
the surplus energy to other states,” he said and added, “The
solution lies in smart energy systems with the proper creation of a
robust grid for wind and solar, all for the benefit of mankind.”
He wanted the government to create an environment with the integration
of diverse components and technologies as also the formation of a
system to store energy for better use.
He predicted that a time would come for 100 per cent dependence on
renewable energy and domestic and commercial segments should have the
benefit of the deregulation in power.
Michael Costa, Deputy Consul General, Australian Consulate-General
Chennai. said that India and Australia could have a strategy in the
domain of renewable energy in that both countries would benefit
enormously. Calling for energy security, he said that Australia would be in a
position to help India on that aspect besides developing high capacity
transmission lines for power.

Ar Rm Arun, Chairman, FICCI TNSC & Chairman, Valingro Group, said that
the flagship programme by FICCI would deliberate on ways to create a
robust energy system with a projected outlay of 1000 MW of solar
power in the current fiscal encompassing both domestic and commercial
sides. He spoke at length on the variants of solar and battery technology and
the much-talked about e-vehicles that could be mandated by the country
soon with a pointed reference to make use of petrol bunks as battery
charging centres for e-vehicles. He further said that FICCI energy committee worked closely with the
government in the field of renewable energy what with a 20-year road
map for future energy programmes.

Mr. Robin Hobday, Head, FICCI TNSC, outlined the theme of the summit and
coordinated with the day-long sessions. The summit also witnessed deliberations of all kinds during sessions like The Right Power Mix for A Renewable Era, Energy and Environment –
A New Era, Renewable Energy Sector-Current Trends and Renewable
Energy- Investment Opportunities.