The Department of Electronics Engineering at SiliconTech, the engineering institute of Silicon University, in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student chapter, organized an invited talk titled ‘AI as an Accelerator: Driving Renewable Energy Adoption for Sustainable Rural Development’ as part of the SiliconTech’s Silver Jubilee celebrations on 26 November 2025.
The primary objective of the session was to explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing renewable energy solutions for sustainable rural development. The talk was delivered by Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mohanty, a distinguished academician and expert in renewable energy, biofuels, and agricultural machinery. In his talk, he discussed how AI can optimize energy systems, enhance solar and wind energy forecasting, and improve smart grids and intelligent energy management systems. The talk also covered the integration of AI with bioenergy, solar cold storage, and rural electrification, highlighting its potential to address energy challenges in rural India.
Throughout the session, Dr. Mohanty presented various case studies that demonstrated how AI-enabled renewable energy solutions could foster sustainable development in rural areas. He also addressed the challenges of deploying these technologies in rural settings and the future opportunities for research and innovation. The talk emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among electronics, AI, energy, and agriculture sectors to create effective, sustainable solutions.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where students, faculty, and research scholars interacted with Dr. Mohanty, discussing practical challenges, research opportunities, and career prospects in the renewable energy sector. Dr. Mohanty encouraged the next generation of engineers and researchers to innovate in the field of sustainability. The talk was a significant contribution to SiliconTech’s mission of fostering technology-driven societal impact and inspired attendees to focus on AI’s potential in driving renewable energy adoption for a sustainable future.
