Pondicherry University’s Green Energy Department Conducts One-Day Industrial Visit

The Department of Green Energy Technology (DGET) at the Madanjeet Singh School of Green Energy Technologies (MSGET), Pondicherry University, successfully organized a one-day industrial visit. This educational trip, supported by the South Asia Foundation (SAF), provided students with practical exposure to the latest green energy technologies in an industrial setting. The visit was an integral part of the department's ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world applications, offering students valuable insights into sustainable energy practices.

PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY UNESCO MADANJEET SCHOOL OF GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES (UMSGET) DEPARTMENT OF GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY R.V. NAGAR, KALAPET, PUDUCHERRY - 605 014

 PROGRAM REPORT

ONE-DAY INDUSTRIAL VISIT TRIP organized by the DGET, MSGET, PU from the support of SAF

The Department of Green Energy Technology was established in 2010 under the aegis of the South Asia Foundation (SAF) to provide teaching and research on various renewable energy technology for M.Tech and Ph.D. Courses. The Department promotes research in Fuels and combustion, Thermal power from biomass/waste, Solar Photovoltaic, Solar Thermal, Biofuels, Wind Energy, Small Hydropower, Ocean Energy, and Material development in energy conversion. As a part of the M.Tech (GET) program, the students are made to get exposure to the industry to know the actual working environment to develop their practical understanding of the techniques and processing. The DGET organizes the industrial visit annually, aiming to provide students with an opportunity to observe and understand the various aspects of energy and related sectors. The students have a course paper, "Wind Energy Technology," in the current semester. As a part of the curriculum and to gain practical insights into industrial operations, 21 M.Tech. students and three faculty members from the Department visited the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Power Pvt. Ltd., Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, on 28^th July 2023. 

Visit to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Systems,  Nacelle and Hub Assembly Facility Unit, Mamandur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

          The Mamandur Assembly Unit is strategically located in the Bukkathurai, Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. The students were warmly welcomed by the company's representatives/staff. Upon verifying the student's ID details, we were guided to the seminar hall. Mr. Sharath Sankara Narayanan, Safety and Health Inspector, delivered a comprehensive lecture on safety guidelines, potential hazards, and risks within the industry. He also emphasized the importance of adhering to site-specific rules and regulations to ensure a safe working environment. A PowerPoint presentation and video complemented his talk, making the learning experience more engaging and informative. After the lecture, the company's representatives provided the students and the supporting faculty with safety gear, including hard-toebox shoes and Industrial Reflective Safety Waistcoat Jackets, ensuring safety during the visit.

An introductory session provided an overview of the company's history, operations, and contribution to India's energy sector. The students were amazed to understand that the whole plant was a green building recognized by IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) in 2017, with a setup of Miyowaki forest within the premises. It was also awarded Deming Prize in 2019 by JUSE (Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers) for TQM (Total Quality Management) by adopting lean manufacturing concepts like KANBAN and KAIZEN in their assembly units.

 After a coffee break, Mr. Brabin Joe, Production Manager, provided a detailed introduction to wind turbine assembly and testing processes. He patiently addressed questions from the students, clarifying various aspects related to the assembly and testing procedures. The students were advised to wear safety helmets, safety shoes, and reflective waistcoat jackets before proceeding to the industry's assembly area/assembling section. The assembly unit is a crucial component of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy's global supply chain for wind turbines,  wherein they witnessed the testing phase of wind turbines. The Facility Unit primarily focused on assembling and testing the Nacelle, Drivetrain, Rotor, and Hub components of onshore turbines. Mr. Brabin Joe explained the rigorous testing processes that the turbines undergo to ensure their efficiency and safety and how continuous online monitoring monitors and maintains the parameters, and he further illustrated how the wind turbines are transported to their designated farms.

 The factory is divided into three sections, namely Bay-1, Bay-2, and Bay-3. The assembly process involves Mainframe Assembly, Joining Assembly, Bottom Assembly, Transformer Assembly, Nacelle Assembly, and Top Cover Assembly. Each section manufactures and tests individual Hub, Nacelle, and Drive Train parts, weighing around 65, 60, and 50 tonnes, respectively.

The students had an opportunity to gain an additional and live experience about the Wind Turbine assembly process. The component arrival, pre-assembly, final assembly, quality control, and transportation. The Siemens Gamesa factory places a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility. The Mamandur Assembly Unit follows eco-friendly practices, such as energy conservation, waste management, and minimizing the carbon footprint associated with its operations. Besides economic benefits, Siemens Gamesa engages in community development initiatives around the facility. These initiatives may include education support, healthcare programs, and environmental conservation projects to improve the neighboring communities' overall well-being.

 The students of the DGET had the opportunity to understand the environmental impact of wind energy practically and they had invaluable practical insights into the assembly and testing of vital windmill components.

The industrial visit organized by the DGET with the support of the SAF Fellowship helped the students of the DGET in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom and real-world applications of renewable energy technologies. It has inspired the students to explore and contribute to the field of renewable energy and environmental conservation. The DGET extend heartfelt gratitude to the managing team and staff, especially Mr. S.S. Narayanan and Mr. Brabin Joe of the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Systems - Nacelle and Hub Assembly Facility, Mamandur, Chennai, for their warm hospitality and their extraordinary explanation about the assemblies of wind energy components at the mechanical and electrical levels. Additionally, we thank the SAF-India for supporting the DGET to organize and make this One-Day Industrial visit a success.

Head of the Department

Professor R. Arun Prasath

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