Power opportunities in Smart Cities

India with smart cities is all set to become the most-populous country in the world by 2030, making it the home to the biggest and the most under-penetrated market for global manufacturers and service providers. Here, the top contributors discuss and applauds the power building blocks of smart cities.

The government has proposed to build around 100 smart cities in the country. Since January 2016, through five rounds of selection, 99 cities have been declared as part of this $14 billion mission. Every smart city is built on the harmony of all the power sectors. A ‘smart’ city thrives on the structure, role and position of each power community.

Transformers for the uninterrupted supply of power
With transformers being an inextricable part of the power sector and uninterrupted supply of power being an inextricable part of the smart cities, the fortunes of the transformer manufacturers and growth of smart cities are connected directly.

Minesh Dave, President-T&D, Tata Power says, “Smart cities will be expected to redefine the benchmark for the energy efficiency i.e. better transmission and distribution system. Here again, the expectations from transformer manufacturers will also be redefined to meet this new demand.”

Crus of India’s evolvement story says that there is a 360-degree development across country’s length and breadth and in all class of cities and villages.

Sanjib Mitra, Country Head & Sr VP – Transformer Division, Electrotherm India says, “Smart cities need more autonomy, integrated operations and connectivity including by-pass routes to cater to emergencies.” Transformers act as the heart of any electricity transfer; without it, it is impossible to lead a smooth operational flow of electricity to every nook and corners of the modern geography.

Governmental support
With initiatives such as ‘Housing for All’ and ‘Smart Cities Mission’ the government is working on reducing blockages holding back the growth in the infrastructure sector.

Dr. Katsutoshi Toda, Executive Chairman, Toshiba Transmission and Distribution Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. says, “The government plan to develop ‘industrial corridors and smart cities’ with a practical intention to repair, or build new airports, highways, schools and hospitals for it.”

There is a need for smart systems that can make power usage efficient, reliable as well as drive sustainability. Anil Kadam, GM, Business Development, Solution Architect, Schneider Electric says, “To sustain the increase in power generation, special emphasis has to be laid on developing an efficient distribution network. The growth in these segments will also drive the transformer market.”

Testing and measuring the Smart City development
Test and measurement plays important role in smart cities related technologies. New communication technologies are used in Smart City deployment.

Madhukar Tripathi, Head- Marketing & Optical Business, Anritsu India Pvt Ltd says, “Smart cities have Wi-Fi network and all pre-deployment and post deployment testing is carried using various test and measurement tools such as spectrum analyser, filed strength meter etc.“

Smart cities are using many electronic devices to carry out various administrative function. The systems are being made to automate various administrative functions. Chandmal Goliya, Director, Kusam Electrical Industries Ltd says, “For automation projects, T&M instruments have a larger role to play and thus, its importance in smart cities cannot be overlooked.”

Yash Kulkarni, Scope T & M PVT. LTD. says, “SCOPE, a pioneer in the Indian T&M sector, is implementing IoT technologies to convert offline one-time testing measurements to online and connected measurements. This would create a wealth of data that, in turn, gives new insights for unlocking higher efficiencies from substation equipment.”

Optic fibre industry interlinking the smart networks
Smart City is developing the entire urban eco-system and is represented by the four pillars of comprehensive development-institutional, physical, social and economic infrastructure.

Abhinandan Sharma, Sr. Vice President, Citadel Intelligent Systems Ltd. says, “Fiber optic will play a pivotal role in realising the dream of all connected smart cities. Even if we consider wireless connectivity as an option against wired connectivity, it’s fiber optics which powers the backbone of the wireless network.”

Optic fibre cables have played a pivotal role across the world in building ecosystems for improving the quality of life through enhanced connectivity.

Randeep Narang, President – International (T&D, Solar) & Cables, KEC International Ltd. says,” KEC International has been manufacturing and supplying optical fibre cables for over 20 years now, to major telecom organisations such as BSNL & BBNL.”

Ashish D. Jain, President and Business Head (Telecom), Polycab India Limited says, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision “Digital India,” has set an ambitious plan to build 100 smart cities across the country. Going by the Prime Minister’s speech cities, which were in the past built on riverbanks are now being built along highways. In the future, they will be built based on the availability of optical fiber networks and next-generation infrastructure.”

Switchgear sector ready for Smart City challenge
Sameer Saxena, Director-Marketing, Legrand (Group) India says, “Smart switchgears enable better monitoring, control and communication, allowing energy-saving and better load management which make them ready for the smart cities.”

Switchgear such as VCB, ACB, MCCBs, motor controls, final distribution products, changeover switches and energy management solutions offered by various international and Indian brands are available with smart controllers and high-end features required for intelligent power distribution and management under Smart City.

Gopal Jha, Manager Marketing, Low Voltage Switchgear – Factory Automation & Industrial Division, Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd. says, “The advanced features required in switchgear, to support smart cities, is already adapted globally and therefore, the major manufacturers have launched those products in India too.”

Smart Cities glowing under connected lights
Connected LED lighting is a key enabler for smart cities and has the potential to enhance overall quality of life and ensure sustainability in our ever-expanding global cities.

Sumit Joshi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Signify India (previously known as Philips Lighting India) says, “We, at Signify, are helping to pave the way for massive urban growth by developing a people-centric blueprint for lighting and IoT platform for smart cities of the future.”

In the future, a city’s lighting infrastructure will offer enormous potential to be part of a city-wide network capable of acquiring data and delivering information and services to and from millions of devices, from garbage bins to autonomous vehicles.

Fahad Khateeb, Director, Indilites LED Lighting says, “Connected lighting aims at making public area illumination a smart concept.” Lights that can be controlled from one point makes it easier to monitor areas as well keep a check on maintenance front without the requirement of physical visit to the spot.

Connected lighting is helping urban cities to bring down CO2 discharges, handle wrongdoing and react to crisis circumstances. It is a characteristic beginning stage to create the framework on which smart technology can be developed. Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group says, “We, at Syska, understand the needs of our users and are continuously making smart products to suit consumer needs. Better lighting can be a key driver to speed up the acquisition of smart technologies.”

The value of lighting goes beyond the traditional expectation of illumination. Rambo Zhang, Country Head, Opple Lighting India says, “With an innovation of TIR lens that offers a clean beam light, free of multiple shadows the LED Spotlight HS, one of Opple’s addition to LED luminaries makes for the perfect choice for a professional lighting accent.”

Opple’s latest product JBL Ceiling Light is an innovatively designed smart light with high-performance Bluetooth enabled speaker. This dynamic lighting luminary is unique and can be integrated with remote control, adds Zhang.

Energy storage play their part in the cities of tomorrow
For smart cities, reliable and quality power are the key factors for the growth as electric grid is accepting more and more green energy. Grid stability issue needs to be addressed.

Naveen Sharma, Vice President – Sales & Strategic Planning, Exicom says, “To enable renewable energy in grid, energy storage will play a pivot role in the grid management and behind the meter application. Nevertheless, energy storage will be a for key enabler e-mobility adoption in the cities.”
Renewable energy creating eco-friendly cities
Energy generation through fossil fuels is one of the biggest causes of air pollution which contributes to harmful greenhouse gasses.

Ashish Joshi, Director, Addin power Ltd says,” By using solar panels, we can harness the Sun’s energy. Many companies have solar technology under development, which is making it more efficient and affordable for everyone.”

Renewable technologies not only provide a low carbon enhancement of energy security, but also have other crucial benefits such as improving access to energy services, increasing the standard of living and levels of employment of the local population, and ensuring sustainable development of the remote regions in a country and so on.

A society entirely on renewable energy
Ketan Chheda, Business Development Manager, Advisory Energy, DNV-GL says, “You have to add in slightly more elements of storage to the renewable energy sector as renewable, by nature, is variable. So, by adding and complementing with storage, I think it is very much possible to have a society entirely dependent on renewable energy.”

Fiber optic will play a pivotal role in realising the dream of all connected smart cities.
Abhinandan Sharma, Sr. Vice President, Citadel Intelligent Systems Ltd

By adapting and implementing innovative renewable technology in our cities, we are one step closer to a greener environment.
Ashish Joshi, Director, Addin power Ltd

The fortunes of the transformer manufacturers and growth of smart cities are connected directly.
Minesh Dave, President-T&D, Tata Power

Smart cities need more autonomy, integrated operations and connectivity including by-pass routes to cater to emergencies.
Sanjib Mitra, Country Head & Sr VP – Transformer Division, Electrotherm India

Investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship are more likely to happen if the right physical and tech contexts exist.
Dr. Katsutoshi Toda, Executive Chairman, Toshiba Transmission and Distribution Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd

To sustain the increase in power generation, special emphasis has to be laid on developing an efficient distribution network.
Anil Kadam, GM, Business Development, Solution Architect, Schneider Electric

Smart cities have Wi-Fi network and all pre-deployment and post deployment testing is carried using test and measurement tools.
Madhukar Tripathi, Head- Marketing & Optical Business, Anritsu India Pvt Ltd

Smart cities are using many electronic devices to carry out various administrative function.
Chandmal Goliya, Director, Kusam Electrical Industries Ltd

SCOPE is implementing IoT technologies to convert offline one-time testing measurements to online and connected measurements.
Yash Kulkarni, Head- Marketing, Scope T & M Pvt Ltd

Optic fibre cables have played a pivotal role across the world in building ecosystems for improving the quality of life through enhanced connectivity.
Randeep Narang, President – International (T&D, Solar) & Cables, KEC International Ltd

The city of the future will be built on the availability of optical fiber networks and next-generation infrastructure.
Ashish D. Jain, President and Business Head (Telecom), Polycab India Limited

Smart switchgear space are designed and suited to the needs of smart cities.
Sameer Saxena, Director-Marketing, Legrand (Group) India

The advanced features required in switchgear, to support smart cities, is already adapted globally.
Gopal Jha, Manager Marketing, Low Voltage Switchgear – Factory Automation & Industrial Division, Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd.

We are developing a people-centric blueprint for lighting and IoT platform for smart cities of the future.
Sumit Joshi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Signify India

Connected lighting aims at making public area illumination a smart concept.
Fahad Khateeb, Director, Indilites LED Lighting

It is possible to have a society entirely dependent on renewable energy.
Ketan Chheda, Business Development Manager, Advisory Energy, DNV-GL

Renewable energy develops the green cities around the world.
Krishnendu Mukherjee, Coo, Sova Solar Limited

Better lighting can be a key driver to speed up the acquisition of smart technologies.
Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group

Connected LED lightings can impact the planet, society, and individuals.
Rambo Zhang, Country Head, Opple Lighting India

Jaipur contributes 30 per cent wind and solar share out of the annual electricity generated.
Jeetendra Saraf, Founder, Newtronics Green Energy

Energy storage will play a pivot role in the grid management and behind the meter application.
Naveen Sharma, Vice President – Sales & Strategic Planning, Exicom