Hindustan Powerprojects one of India’s leading integrated power producer –and IPPAI (Independent power producers association of India) jointly organised the 4th edition of the IPPAI Power Awards 2015. This year also witnessed the launch of the Award for Innovation that recognises an entity’s innovative contribution towards waste to energy, waste heat to energy, energy storage and other such energy efficiency related activities in the power sector.

Elaborating on the efforts to boost innovation in the sector, Ratul Puri Chairman, Hindustan Powerprojects, said: “We need timely commissioning of new projects and also ensure revival of stranded capacity to meet India’s surging demand for power. This can be achieved by innovative approach along with well planned risk mitigated approach hence we introduced this category to recognize the players who have been adopting this route.”

Mr. Ravi Arya, President Thermal, Hindustan Powerprojects, “We recently commissioned the first unit (600 MW) of our flagship thermal power project at Anuppur and hence we realised that it is essential for the industry to do more with what it already has – increase the efficiency of its production and transmission segments and save a lot of electricity that gets lost in the process of translation.”

Among the prize winners for innovation category were Sesa Sterlite for modification to stabilize coal fired power plant, BSES Yamuna Power – IMOS, BSES Rajdhani Power – Modular Integrated Distribution Automation System (MIDAS), Reliance Infrastructure – Feeder Pillar box Design for theft control, Welspun – The methodology of laying cable in hilly terrain, JSW Energy Ltd – utilisation of surplus blast furnace gas. Other categories were Best Performing Distribution Company – Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd Best Progressive State in Power Sector – Gujarat, Award for Best State to promote Renewable Energy – Tamil Nadu, Best Thermal Power Generator (cheapest producing with efficiency) – Dahanu Thermal Power Station, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. Energy Conservation- Reliance Infrastructure, Wind forecasting Methodology-GE Renewable Energy India.

“The Indian power sector requires intervention from the regulators and government bodies to sustain the momentum of growth. We should continue to organize such platforms to engage all stakeholders for inclusive development of the sector.” adds Ravi Arya, President, Thermal, HPPPL.

IPPAI Power Awards are held annually as part of the Regulators & Policymakers Retreat, an interactive flagship event hosted by IPPAI. The theme for this year’s event was ‘The Epochal Shift in the Idea of India’. The conference was supported by the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Coal. The Retreat celebrates the achievements of the Indian power and energy sector in which regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders participate.