Interview
Prepaid metering can definitely boost collection efficiency of discoms: Tata Power
Tata Power has begun smart meter deployment in Mumbai, in a first for India’s Maximum City. In this exclusive interview, we have Sanjay Banga, President – Transmission & Distribution, Tata Power, discussing the Mumbai smart metering effort in detail. Tata Power has always been an active proponent of advanced digital technology and is deepening its smart meter deployment in its other licensed areas like Delhi and Odisha, he notes. While maintaining that India definitely stands to benefit from deployment of prepaid energy meters, the country will profit the most if the power distribution ecosystem becomes more responsible and accountable, asserts Banga. An interview by Venugopal Pillai.
Awareness and acceptance of RCCBs is steadily rising: Legrand India
- Sep 13, 2021
Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, earlier this year, issued an order to make the use of residual current circuit breakers (RCCB) mandatory for electrical installations, with a view to improving safety and reducing fire risk. We have Himanshu Arora, Product Marketing Manager, Legrand India, sharing keen insights on the subject of RCCBs – their evolution, their working and their potential to significantly reduce risk to life and property. Arora observes that RCCBs are rapidly gaining acceptance in India. He also feels that mandating measures, as seen with TNERC, must be emulated by other electricity regulatory bodies as well.
The building electrical segment is poised to be a growth driver: Salzer Electronics
- Sep 2, 2021
Salzer Electronics is a prominent name in the industrial switchgear business with clear market leadership in CAM-operated rotary switches. The recent years have been very eventful for Salzer as it prepares to expand its product and solutions portfolio. In this exclusive exchange, we have Rajesh Doraiswamy, Joint Managing Director Salzer Electronics Ltd, discussing the company’s strategic moves like entering the wiring devices segment, acquiring the “Kaycee” brand and the proposed foray into e-mobility. The aim is groom Salzer into a provider of complete and customized electrical solutions, notes Doraiswamy.
The degree of protection of an electrical panel plays an important role: Sterling and Wilson
- Aug 28, 2021
An electrical panel might appear as an inconspicuous element of a power distribution system. However, its criticality cannot be overstated. In this exchange with T&D India, we have Dibyendu Ray, COO – Transmission and Distribution, Substations and Railways Business, Sterling and Wilson Pvt Ltd, giving keen insights on electrical panels from an EPC contractor’s perspective. Ray discusses the diligence that an EPC contractor needs to exercise to ensure quality performance and safety of electrical panels, which form an integral component of the power distribution system of any installation.
We have acquired competency to undertake even complex EHV projects: Godrej & Boyce
- Aug 27, 2021
Godrej & Boyce recently won the mandate to build Mumbai’s first 400kV GIS substation. Despite its relatively new entry in the power T&D space, in around 2010, Godrej & Boyce has taken rapid strides and today has to its credit a reference of over 30 EHV substations. We have Raghavendra Mirji, Senior Vice President & Business Head, Power Infrastructure and Renewable Energy (PIRE) & Busbar Business, Godrej Electricals & Electronics, telling us more on his company’s competency in the power T&D space and how the company plans to leverage opportunities in this vibrant sector.
Customers are now slowly realizing the importance of RCCBs: Havells India
- Aug 24, 2021
Recently, Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) made it mandatory for electrical installations to be equipped with residual current circuit breakers (RCCB) with a view to eliminating risk of fire and electric shock. In this backdrop, T&D India caught up with Havells India, a leading supplier of RCCBs and other protection switchgear, to understand the technical and practical aspects of RCCBs. In this exchange, Saurabh Goel, President, Havells India, gives a comprehensive understanding of RCCBs from the consumer’s perspective. Goel feels that though RCCBs are currently overlooked by majority of consumers, proactive steps from regulatory authorities, discoms and manufacturers like Havells India, will see RCCBs receiving their due attention in good time.
With serious effort, India can produce CRGO steel: IEEMA
- Aug 20, 2021
The Indian distribution transformer industry has the dubious distinction of having the highest failure rates. There are other contentious issues like use of recycled CRGO steel and dual certification for energy efficiency. State government-owned discoms are also criticized for inadvertently inducting sub-standard transformers into the system, thanks to archaic procurement policies. In this exclusive interview, we have Ajay Sanghi, Chairman, Distribution Transformers Division, Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), touching upon pressing issues plaguing the distribution transformer industry, whilst making some valuable remedial suggestions. An interview by Venugopal Pillai.
We expect a great outlook for the power transmission segment: CLP India
- Aug 19, 2021
CLP India is among the oldest and largest foreign investors in India’s power sector. CLP India today has a power generation portfolio of over 3 GW spread over supercritical coal, gas, and predominantly, renewable energy projects. CLP India has now diversified into power transmission, initially through the brownfied route. We have Naveen Munjal, Director – Business Development & Commercial (Conventional), CLP India, discussing his company’s growth plans in the power transmission segment – an area that Munjal believes has immense potential. An interview by Venugopal Pillai.
We aspire to be a world leader in energy technology: Enphase Energy
- Aug 17, 2021
Founded in 2006, US-based Enphase Energy focuses on energy management technology for residential and commercial solar panels. Enphase has revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology, and approximately 1.5 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 130 countries, so far. In this exclusive interaction, we have Sunil Thamaran, India Head, Enphase Energy, telling us more on Enphase’ microinverter technology, whilst discussing the company’s aggressive growth plans in the high-potential Indian market. An interview by Venugopal Pillai.
We are proud partners in India’s energy transition: Siemens India
- Aug 14, 2021
For India’s power transmission & distribution sector, Siemens has been not just a long-standing partner, but also the creator of new-technology paradigms. Siemens has several firsts to its credit—voltage source converter (VSC) technology being a very recent case in point. We have in this exclusive interview, Gerd Deusser, Head – Energy, Siemens India, telling us more about how Siemens is deepening its engagement with India, and that too by extensive localization. Siemens is committed to bringing state-of-the-art technologies to support India’s energy transition, asserts Deusser. An interview by Venugopal Pillai.