Energy, employment and environmental protection are the three main problems which need to be properly handled by any country.
New Technologies : Emerging Renewable Options Chemical storage of energy, fuel cells, hydrogen energy, Geo-thermal energy, Alternative fuels for surface transportation, Bio-fuels, ocean & Tidal energy.
Power Generation Technologies : Wind Mills, Small Hydro Power, Bio-Mass Energy and Co-generation, Energy from Wastes, Solar Energy Technologies, Solar Photo-Voltaics, Solar Thermal
Rural Energy Technologies: Biogas, Energy efficient wood burning cook stoves (improved chullahs), Integrated rural energy program
Objective of Courses :
 Organizing training and promotion programmes in renewable energy for engineers and technicians and for administrators of government and voluntary agencies
 Organizing environment awareness programmes for teachers, students, social workers, administrators etc. for administrators of government and voluntary agencies
 Organizing eco-friendly aquaculture training for biology graduates (job oriented) backyard pond and aquarium culture training for general citizens to create awareness
 Organizing environment related workshops and seminars for religious leaders, seminarians and trainees.
 Organizing energy management training programs for large industries and institutions for families, small industries and institutions
 Organizing training workshops on rainswater utilization and waste water management for general citizens, institutions and industries
 Organizing training programmes for solar P- V and thermal system installation for encouraging young technicians
Institutions Offering Courses/ Training Programs in Renewable Energy Systems :
1. CSER-TD (Centre for Solar Energy Research-Technology Dissemination) T.P.K.Road, 625001 Madurai.
2. Karpagam Polytechnic College Main Road, Eachanari 641021 Coimbatore.
3. Renewable Energy Centre - Mithradham - Chunangamveli, Aluva Kerala.
4. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).
5. Three organizations under Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) for technology development, testing and certification of RE systems are :
 Solar Energy Center (SEC), Gurgaon, Haryana
 Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
 Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewable Energy (NIRE), Jallandhar, Punjab
6. Solar Energy Centre (SEC), of Ministry of Non Conventional sources - New Delhi ,is actively involved in different activities concerning with design, development, testing, standardization, consultancy, training and information dissemination in the field of solar energy.
7. The School of Energy Studies at Jadavpur University. It is a multidisciplinary unit coordinating activities in different University departments for creation of energy awareness, advocacy and promotion of non-conventional energy sources, and conducts research and development activities .The School offers a 3-semester M.Tech. Course in Energy Science & Technology, Certificate course on Energy Management & Audit as well as shorter courses on utilization technologies in the fields of Solar Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal, Wind Energy, Biogas, Biomass, Photochemical Mini-micro Hydel and Energy Management.
8. Energy Systems Engineering (ESE) at IIT Bombay.
9. Maharashtra Energy Develop-ment Agency (MEDA)- Pune. Potential Areas For Consultancy Services: After acquiring qualification and training in non-conventional energy sources, the candidates can offer consultancy in :
 Solar thermal testing, standardization and system design
 SPV testing, standardization and system design
 Material testing
 Solar thermal power generation
 Interactive research and development
 Technology assessment report, at national and international levels
 Integration of solar and conventional systems
 Financial and cost benefit analysis
 Assessment of improvement in environment
 Diagnostic studies for performance improvement of existing systems
 Designing of energy efficient buildings using solar passive concepts
 Energy Auditor/assessor
With a strong industrial base and successful commercialization of technologies in wind, solar thermal, solar photo-voltaics, biogas and improved biomass stoves, small hydel, today India is in a position today to offer 'state of the art' technology to developing countries and is emerging as a leader in the global movement towards sustainable energy development.
— Dr. A.G. Matani
(The author is a Lecturer, Government College of Engineering, Amaravati.)