The IEEE students chapter of Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon organized a visit to TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute at Gurgaon. Mr. Omkar Singh (Assistant Professor, CSE Dept.) and Mrs. Poonam Yadav (Assistant Professor, ECS Dept.) along with 50 students from ECS, IT, CSIT, CSE, EEE, & ECE Departments of Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon visited the institute on 29th February 2016.

The purpose of this visit was to understand the mechanism of various projects regarding renewable energy. The aim of the trip was to generate some more innovative ideas among our young brains to accept upcoming challenges and to save the Environment. The visit to TERI was highly educative as the students learnt different approaches to create innovative solutions for a sustainable future.

TERI, a dynamic and flexible organization with a global vision and a local focus, is the largest developing - country institution working towards sustainability, moves from formulating local and national - level strategies to shaping global solutions to critical issues. Teri Gram is a live example of complete usage of Renewable Energy.

The college team was welcomed by Mr. Varun Sethi, Marketing, Director, TERI. The visit started through an audio-visual presentation of TERI and TERI GRAM at TERI RETREAT. Then the TERI researchers guided the students to showcase various research facilities available in TERI GRAM, including Smart Controller Laboratory (SC Lab) which is one of the network facilities under MSL Research Network (MRN) working in the mini - grid domain. The students also visited the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) campus to see the various research facilities on Solar Energy systems including Solar Resource Assessment stations, Solar PV systems, and Solar Thermal technologies.

The whole retreat has used natural resources at its water heaters to provide 2000 litres of hot water to the living quarters. Photovoltaic panels help capture solar energy and store it in a bank of batteries which is the main source of power at night Mukteshwar which is twice efficient than normal gasifiers. Natural Water purification method using Bamboos was done and the same water was used in gardens to water plants. Natural air conditioners are being maintained keeping in mind that temperature below 4km in the Earth’s Crust remains at 250C – 260 C. Cool air form the underground tunnels helped by two blowers fitted in the tunnels rush in to replace the warm air. A great deal of thought and planning has gone into the construction of this complex at Gual Pahari.

Mr. U.Vellai, Manufacturing Head, TERI addressed the students and discussed the causes and remedies of environmental pollution in India. He also shared his vision on the participation of intellectuals to maintain a balance in the atmosphere. Various technological innovations are needed to upgrade the methodology so that a pollution free earth and ecosystem could be maintained. Further they show separate unit like solar power plant, which caters for 50 KW of power need and a Gasifier power plant which caters for 25 KW of power were demonstrated and explained to the students.

Overall it was a great experience as it gave good practical exposure to the students.