Power quality in India needs improvement

“Although we talk about new technologies, there are very few utilities that are progressive enough to open up to new technologies.”
Manish Gupta, Regional Manager, OMICRON Energy Solutions Private Limited

In a discussion, Manish Gupta, Regional Manager, OMICRON Energy Solutions Private Limited sheds light on diagnostic solutions and technologies being still primitive and conventional in India compared to global standards, and the scope of improvement in power quality and pricing.

What kind of innovations and challenges do you see in the domain of diagnosis for the Indian power sector?
The challenges in the Indian power sector can be looked at in two parts: innovation in terms of the existing practices, and innovation in terms of the solutions. Fortunately for OMICRON, we have been one of the most innovative companies to come out with diagnostic solutions for the industry. When we talk about innovation, it should not be linked to the cost of purchase of the equipment; it should always be linked to the cost of operation. We must look at the value the diagnostic equipment offers to the customer, i.e., its benefits or value addition. Another aspect is that in India, we are still possibly 10 years behind as compared to the international practices when it comes to diagnostics. Although we talk about new technologies, there are very few utilities that are progressive enough to open up to new technologies. They need to start thinking differently and adopt new technologies proactively. Rise in power consumption plays a significant role for India.

How do you see the market situation in the Indian power sector as compared to the global scenario?
One of the major challenges in the power sector is the pricing of power, as affordability is a big issue. Although we have surplus power generation, it’s still not reaching all the corners of the country. India has more than enough power suppliers, but there is definitely a big scope of improvement in the quality of power. There are also a lot of challenges the government faces in terms of providing subsidies. When it comes to the cost of power, electricity is expensive overseas. But the consumer is willing to pay because he assured of the quality of power, which is not the same in India. The focus should be on investing in technology so that the system and network can operate at the most efficient level.

How do you see OMICRON playing a critical role in India?
In India, there are a few aspects to be considered. In terms of digital substations, particularly IEC 61850, OMICRON has been a pioneer in this field and that is the advantage we can bring to the power industry in India. Secondly, in conventional testing, we need to change the mindset towards investing in equipment, which can save a lot of downtime and directly translates into revenue for utilities. We are focusing on how we can optimise the complete testing of a substation. We offer the power of automation through our solutions, by which we can reduce transformer testing time to as low as 90 seconds from 2-3 hours. The third aspect would be knowledge sharing. If you share knowledge, it multiplies and benefits everyone. We share knowledge with our customers, and in turn, use that opportunity to listen to them. It provides the necessary feedback to our innovations team for newer technologies to be brought into the market.