Odisha Channel Bureau
Bhubaneswar: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday between Odisha Corporate Foundation (OCF) and AIC Nalanda Institute of Technology Foundation (AIC-NITF) in order to promote entrepreneurship in the field of renewable energy in Odisha. OCF also announced its partnership with Atal Incubation Centre Nalanda (AICN).
During the virtual inauguration of Solar Energy Conclave 2020, organised by AICN, the MoU was signed between AICN’s chief executive officer Durga Prasad Gouda and OCF’s chairman Hrushikesh Behera.
Joining a panel discussion titled, ‘Renewable Energy for Inclusive Development – Policies and Strategies,’ International Solar Alliance’s Director General Upendra Tripathy, who was the chief guest on the occasion, discussed different ways to promote and utilise renewable energy in Odisha.
He emphasized upon taking measures to make renewable energy accessible to each household of the state and generating employment opportunities in this field. “The partnership between the OCF and the AICN will go a long way in this regard,” he added.
The MoU between OCF and AICN will broaden the arena of entrepreneurship and lead the state on the path of progress so far as solar energy is concerned, said Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) Director (Human Resources) Santanu Rath, while praising OCF for its contribution towards promoting entrepreneurship in the state.
“Energy is the basis of development. So far as utilising solar energy is concerned, there are many issues and challenges in our state which need to be addressed on a priority basis. If we can address these issues, we can be self-reliant in our energy needs and face natural disasters more effectively,” said Nalco’s former Chairman- cum-Managing Director (CMD) Dr Tapan Kumar Chand.
Former Secretary of Govt of India Maheswar Sahu, who is also former Additional Chief Secretary of Govt of Gujarat, said the start-up scenario of Odisha is changing fast and the youth are now keen to become entrepreneurs. “We need to encourage them to work for utilizing solar power,” he noted.
Throwing light on the current status of renewable energy in India, he said the country is making remarkable progress in the solar power sector. The Gujarat Government is producing 50GW solar energy from 2 lakh acres of land. Every part of the country is going to get its benefits, he said while urging entrepreneurs to innovate technologies for best management of solar power.
ORERA Chairperson Siddhant Das said solar power holds enormous potential for development of our country. It is the best substitute of coal-fired energy, he added.
Highlighting the challenges associated with producing and utilising renewable energy, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Professor Saroj Kumar Nayak said at present production of low-cost solar panels has been a challenge.
“If we can produce solar panels at reasonable prices, all households can be self-sufficient so far as their energy need is concerned,” he pointed out. He emphasized on promoting entrepreneurship and use of nano-technology to address the challenges in this field.
Innolia Energy’s Market Consultant Tapan Kumar Mohanty said renewable energy creates less pollution and thus it is a sustainable way to meet energy requirements.
OCF is playing an important role in developing this sector by promoting start-ups.
Chirasthaee Urja Samadhaan (CUS) Director Banamali Dash praised the initiatives of OCF to inform and make aware the investors about the solar power sector.
