Jaipur, 28 October – On the second day of the Distribution Utility Meet, a session titled “Climate Resilience and Securing the Physical Assets of DISCOMs” was held at Hotel Lalit, where domestic and international energy experts discussed measures to safeguard electricity distribution networks against climate change, cyclones, floods and extreme temperatures. The session was chaired by Shri Shashank Mishra, Joint Secretary (Distribution) of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, and moderated by Shri Ravi Sethpathi, ISGF advisor and Executive Chairman of Biosirus Inc.
Shri Kiran Sabbineni, Lead Specialist – Energy, CDRI, highlighted the need to assess climate risks and invest in climate‑resilient electricity networks. Shri Gajanan Kale, CEO, TPCODL, shared experiences from restoring power during Cyclone ‘Dana’ in Odisha in 2024 through GIS mapping, rapid deployment of resources and coordinated efforts.
Shri Anish Thomas, Associate Director, EATON, explained the utility of sensor, IoT, SCADA and AI‑based predictive maintenance. Shri Song Young‑sub, Principal Engineer – R&D at South Korea’s Reformtech Company Ltd., described CLF fuse technology, noting that it contains the arc generated during a fault within a sealed unit, reducing the risk of fire, noise and equipment damage.
Shri Kiran Gupta, Chief – Customer Experience, Commercial & Government Affairs at Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL), said data from smart meters can be used for better decision‑making, revenue management and efficient operation of the distribution network. Shri Vishnu Shankar Srivastava, Head – Strategic Projects at BRPL, emphasized flood‑resistant substations, underground cabling, risk‑based network strengthening, automation during disasters and the development of emergency micro‑grids for hospitals and other essential services. He also stressed the importance of financial resources and coordination among DISCOMs for disaster management.
Prof. Dr. Anil Narayan Raghav of the Physics Department, University of Mumbai, briefed on the effects of solar activity and geomagnetic storms that generate Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) on transformers. He explained that such storms can cause excess heating and operational issues in transformers and highlighted the need to monitor transformer temperature and GIC effects and adopt protective measures in time.
The experts agreed that smart technology, robust electrical equipment, risk‑based planning, adequate financial resources and swift action during disasters can enhance the reliability of electricity distribution networks and help ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers.
Satish/Priyanka