The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) at Silicon University organized the 16th National Workshop on Emerging Technologies in Electrical Power Engineering (NWET-2026) on 3 and 4 April 2026. The theme of the workshop was ‘Transforming Energy Systems: Industry, Innovation, and Sustainability’.
The primary objective of NWET-2026 was to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building in emerging technologies related to electrical power engineering. The workshop aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of power system resilience, renewable energy integration, energy storage technologies, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence applications, and energy transition strategies. It also sought to strengthen industry–academia collaboration and encourage the exchange of ideas necessary to address the challenges of modern energy systems.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. Jaideep Talukdar, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of Silicon University, Prof. Ashok Kumar Tripathy, former Director General of the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), who attended as the Chief Guest, Mr. Prasanta Kumar Pattanaik, Director (Operations) at Odisha Power Transmission Corporation (OPTCL), who joined as the Guest of Honour, and Dr. Ramaprasad Panda, Professor of EEE at Silicon and Convener of NWET-2026. Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries shared valuable insights into the evolving energy landscape and underscored the importance of innovation, sustainability, and stronger industry–academia collaboration in shaping the future of power systems.
On 3 April 2026, the workshop featured a series of insightful presentations focusing on emerging technologies and the future of power systems. Mr. P. K. Pattanaik delivered an expert talk on ‘Emerging Technologies, Now and Next’, followed by a keynote lecture on ‘Engineering Mind and Technology Development’ by Prof. A. K. Tripathy. Mr. Shanti Swarup Rath from the Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Department conducted a technical session on ‘Power System Stability and Resilience in Renewable Energy Rich Grids’, while Dr. Ramaprasad Panda delivered an expert lecture on ‘Future of Power Systems in Energy Transition’. The sessions provided participants with valuable perspectives on technological innovation, grid resilience, and the challenges of integrating renewable energy into modern power systems.
On 4 April 2026, the workshop focused on emerging applications and sustainable energy solutions. Prof. (Dr.) Pravat Kumar Rout, Professor in EEE from Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Odisha, delivered a technical lecture on how AI and ML are revolutionizing electric vehicles, followed by an expert session by Dr. Manoranjan Sahoo, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering from NIT Rourkela. Mr. Swapnesh Patnaik from Luminous Power Technologies presented an industry talk on the ‘Role of Energy Storage in Renewable Energy Systems’. The workshop concluded with a panel discussion on ‘Decarbonizing Industries: Technology vs Economics’, which encouraged meaningful deliberations on balancing technological advancements with economic considerations to achieve sustainable industrial growth and energy transition goals.
The workshop concluded with a valedictory session recognizing the contributions of speakers, participants, faculty members, and the organizing committee. NWET-2026 successfully fostered an environment of learning, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, providing valuable insights into the technologies shaping the future of electrical power engineering. The event reinforced the importance of innovation, sustainability, and industry-academia partnerships in advancing the transition toward cleaner, more resilient, and sustainable energy systems.
