ISGF Launches Online Training Program on Blockchain for Energy and Utilities from 07 January 2021

World-renowned experts from leading companies will deliver the sessions during the training program

NEW DELHI, Jan. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ISGF has launched an Online Training Program on Blockchain for Energy and Utilities. The training sessions for this program will be held from 07 January 2021 to 05 February 2021. This training program will introduce the participants with the technology; deep dive into the applications and platforms; address the maturity of blockchain technology; share relevant power sector use cases regulations and policy support required to incorporate these use cases. The training will be conducted in two formats - live online training (where participants can attend the live session by the tutors and ask the queries in real time) and recorded online training (where participants especially working professionals can watch the recorded video as per their schedule and comfort). This is a certified program by ISGF for both live and recorded training program. A very nominal fee is charged from the participants so that maximum number of students and working professionals can take the benefit of the program and learn about Blockchain Technology.

About Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is a distributed, digital transaction technology that allows for securely storing data and executing smart contracts in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. Rather than being controlled by one entity, blockchain is spread across multiple systems and uses a form of data logging to ensure that the information cannot be changed or corrupted by anyone else. By decentralizing data and protecting the way it is managed, blockchain promotes transparency and the sharing of information.

Blockchain technology has been considered as the next big technological breakthrough which finds its way from online transaction to e-governance and has tremendous potential across all the sectors e.g. financial sector, logistics and supply chain, energy sector etc.

Blockchain for Energy and Utilities

Blockchain has attracted the attention of the power industry with its potential to unleash an energy revolution in which both electric utilities and consumers will produce and sell electricity. The booming demand and increased growth of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, batteries, microgrids, electric vehicle charging and embedded networks has moved the power balance from centralized agencies to the edges of the grid. Blockchain could offer a reliable, low-cost way for financial or operational transactions to be recorded and validated across a distributed network with no central point of authority. All that's required to bring the revolution into the mainstream is an energy market model that takes power from central players' hands and puts customers in command of a co-created future.

While there are more than 24 use cases of blockchain technology in the power sector, the one that is currently gaining the most attention is P2P power trading, where small-scale generation owners may directly sell excess energy to other consumers. Energy trading in P2P network is enabled through smart contracts executed on blockchain. Blockchain-enabled technologies can add to the speed of adoption as they can be applied to applications for Community Net Metering, Virtual Net Metering, EV Charging, Virtual Power Plant etc.

ISGF experience in Blockchain Technology

India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) has been working with the electricity distribution companies in India to accelerate adoption of innovative smart grid technologies including renewable energy and electric vehicle integration with the electricity grids and have partnered with large number of technology providers, utilities, think tanks and entrepreneurs from around the world to introduce emerging technologies in India. ISGF in partnership with the Australian technology firm, Power Ledger is implementing a pilot project in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh (India) on P2P Trading of Solar Energy on Blockchain platform. ISGF is also the India Chapter for Energy Blockchain Consortium, USA and Energy Web Foundation (EWF).

About ISGF

ISGF is a public private partnership initiative of Govt. of India with the mandate of accelerating smart grid deployments across the country. With 170+ members comprising of ministries, utilities, technology providers, academia and research, ISGF has evolved as a Think-Tank of global repute on Smart Energy and Smart Cities. Mandate of ISGF is to accelerate energy transition through clean energy, electric grid modernization and electric mobility; work with national and international agencies in standards development and help utilities, regulators and the Industry in technology selection, training and capacity building.

Training program details are available at: https://indiasmartgrid.org/onlinetrainingprogram/

ISGF to Launch 1st-of-its-Kind Project in South Asia on P2P Trading of Rooftop Solar Power on Blockchain

Uttar Pradesh is the first state to launch blockchain-enabled solar power trading in India and South Asia

NEW DELHI, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Uttar Pradesh is all set to launch India and South Asia's first blockchain-enabled Peer to Peer (P2P) Trading of Rooftop Solar Power on 17thDecember 2020. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL), Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (MVVNL) and Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) will host the first of its kind pilot project involving energy generated from solar rooftop systems installed on buildings in Lucknow. The project is being implemented by India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) along with blockchain technology partner Power Ledger, Australia and Abajyon Consulting who supported the integration of blockchain platform with UPPCL's billing system.

The P2P trading platform is set for the launch with its first 12 participants comprising of 9 customers with rooftop solar (prosumers) and 3 customers without rooftop solar (net buyers), identified in consultation with MVVNL. The customers have been provided training through online training sessions by ISGF on various functionalities of the blockchain platform and the procedure that need to be followed to participate in the trading activities. This being a pilot project, the participants will engage in the mock trading (no money transactions) for next 3 months. During this period, ISGF will try different trading logics and test scenario is win-win for all stakeholders including the utility. The results and recommendations of the pilot project will be submitted to UPPCL and UPERC for consideration for framing regulations to promote P2P trading of rooftop solar power amongst prosumers and consumers in the state.

"This pilot project will demonstrate the feasibility of rooftop solar energy trading through smart contracts on the blockchain platform between prosumers with their neighbouring households. Power Ledger's platform integrates the transaction data from the smart meters to enable households to set prices, track energy trading in real time and enable the settlement of surplus solar energy transactions," said ISGF President, Mr Reji Kumar Pillai.

For more details about project, please write to ISGF at contactus@indiasmartgrid.org.

About India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF)

ISGF is a public private partnership initiative of Govt. of India with the mandate of accelerating smart grid deployments across the country. With 170+ members comprising of ministries, utilities, technology providers, academia and research, ISGF has evolved as a Think-Tank of global repute on Smart Energy and Smart Cities. Mandate of ISGF is to accelerate energy transition through clean energy, electric grid modernization and electric mobility; work with national and international agencies in standards development and help utilities, regulators and the Industry in technology selection, training and capacity building.

Distribution Utility Meet (DUM 2020) - 4th Annual Conference of Power Distribution Utilities for Collaborative Growth

- DUM will be held this year on Digital Platform with Host Utilities - BSES Yamuna, BSES Rajdhani, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited and Tata Power Company Limited, Mumbai from 27 – 28 Nov 2020

NEW DELHI , Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4th edition of ISGF's Annual Conference and Exhibition - Distribution Utility Meet (DUM 2020) will be held from 27 – 28 November 2020 on a Digital Platform this year. DUM 2020 is supported by Ministry of Power (MoP), Govt of India (GoI) . It will be hosted by BSES Yamuna, BSES Rajdhani, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited and Tata Power Company Limited, Mumbai . DUM 2020 will provide a unique platform for the DISCOM community to share each other's experiences in dealing with COVID-19 challenges and efforts towards fast track automation and digitalization. As the world is struggling to cope with the new-normal and preparing for the next-normal, it is imperative that utilities do not make the same mistakes but learn from each other's experiences and also bring global expertise and experiences to India. Experts from leading Utilities and experts from USA , Europe , Japan , Bangladesh and Srilanka will participate in DUM 2020 and share their experiences.

Our Hon'ble Minister Shri RK Singh, Minister for Power, MNRE and Skill Development is invited to inaugurate the event. Other eminent speakers invited during the inauguration of DUM 2020 will be SN Sahai, Secretary, Ministry of Power; Karen Klimowski , Indo Pacific Coordinator & Acting Deputy Director, USAID /India; Kapil Mohan , Principal  Secretary – Energy, Karnataka; Anshu Bhardwaj , CEO, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation; Akash Tripathi , Managing Director of MP Power Management Company and Secretary, Energy, Govt of MP & Chairman of MPKVVCL and Ganesh Srinivasan, CEO, TPDDL.

ISGF has been spearheading the movement towards digitalization of utilities in India . Although the actual implementation in many utilities may still be not be significant, there is already a unanimous voice for taking this journey to full digitalization. In the aftermath of COVID-19, digital platforms have become the coveted assets for utilities in their business continuity and resiliency. Government of India is about to launch a new program that is going to mandate smart meters for all the 250 million+ electricity customers in the country. Besides smart metering, utilities are expected to leverage digital platforms for many of their operations. All these new initiatives towards digitalization which in the business as usual scenario in the pre-COVID world would have taken well over a decade are now going to happen in the next 2-3 years on fast track. This is going to create data driven smart utilities which will open up new business opportunities for organizations providing tools and services to host and manage the enormous amounts of data utilities are expected to generate in the coming days.

The key themes of DUM 2020 are Digitalization in DISCOMs; Policies and Regulations for the Digital DISCOMs; DISCOM Privatization Plan; DISCOMs after COVID-19; and 250 million Smart Meters. DUM 2020 will also have a Plenary Session on New Revenue Opportunities for DISCOMs. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) - JAPAN , The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Florence School of Regulation (FSR) and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) have joined DUM 2020 as Knowledge Partners. DUM 2020 will have the Projects and Technology showcase by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Accenture, BSES Yamuna; BSES Rajdhani; Tata Power - DDL; and Tata Power Company Ltd, Mumbai ; S&C; isMobile; Schnider and many other DISCOMs and Technology Companies.

Confirmed Speakers at DUM 2020 includes Raj Pratap Singh, Chairman, UPERC; Anand Kumar , Chairperson, Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC); MK Goel, Chairman, Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC); Richard Schomberg , IEC Ambassador & Chairman, IEC Smart Energy Systems Committee; Mark McGranaghan , Vice President, Innovation EPRI; Roberto Zangrandi , Secretary-General, E.DSO; Jean Michel Glachant, Director, Florence School of Regulation; Karen Klimowski , Indo Pacific Coordinator & Acting Deputy Director, USAID /India; Mritunjay Kumar Narayan , Joint Secretary (Transmission, Information Technology and Discom Privatization), Ministry of Power, Govt of India ; Arun Kumar Mishra , Director, NPMU, NSGM; AK Verma, Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power; Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director, The Tata Power Company Limited; Amal Sinha , CEO, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited; Prem R Kumar, CEO, BSES Yamuna Power Limited; Bikash Dewan , Managing Director, Dhaka Power Distribution Company; Sanjay Banga , President, Tata Power ; Apurva Chaturvedi , Senior Clean Energy Specialist, Indo Pacific Office , USAID/India; Anshu Bharadwaj , CEO, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation; Mahesh Patankar , Senior Advisor And Consultant Interim India Program Director, RAP India and Ajay Kaul , Head - States & Local Govt, Amazon Internet Services Pvt Ltd and Deepti Vikas Dutt, Head – Strategic Initiatives, Public Sector, Amazon Internet Services Pvt Ltd

ISGF has been organizing Distribution Utility Meet (DUM) since 2017. The first edition of DUM in 2017 was hosted by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) in November 2017 in Bangalore and the second edition was hosted by Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power - DDL) and Tata Power Company Ltd (TPC) in Mumbai in Nov 2018 . The Third Edition of DUM was organized in New Delhi and was co-hosted by BSES Rajadhani Power Ltd (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL), Tata Power Company Ltd, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. All the previous editions of DUM were huge success that attracted the attention and participation of majority of the distribution utilities in India . Leading utilities from USA , Canada , Japan and Europe also participated in DUM and shared their experiences in implementing Smart Grid Technologies.

Please register for participating in DUM 2020 at www.dumindia.in or contact Ronkini Shome for more details at ronkini.shome@indiasmartgrid.org .

About India Smart Grid Forum

ISGF is a public private partnership initiative of Govt. of India with the mandate of accelerating smart grid deployments across the country. With 170+ members comprising of ministries, utilities, technology providers, academia and research, ISGF has evolved as a Think-Tank of global repute on Smart Energy and Smart Cities. Mandate of ISGF is to advise government on policies and programs for promotion of Smart Grids in India , work with national and international agencies in standards development and to help utilities, regulators and the Industry in technology selection, training and capacity building.