As part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Smart Energy Learning Centre (SELC) at Dhirubhai Ambani University organised a two-day workshop on Smart Energy and Sustainability on May 19–20, 2026. The workshop brought together distinguished dignitaries, eminent academicians, industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers to deliberate on emerging challenges and opportunities in the field of smart energy and sustainability.

The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Tapas Maiti and Prof. Bhaskar Chaudhury, Head – SELC. Prof. Bhaskar Chaudhury highlighted SELC’s focus on innovation-driven and utility-oriented smart services, while showcasing the Centre’s ongoing projects and research initiatives.

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. G. Venkatesh, Director, School of Technology, DAU, who spoke on the growing energy demands of Artificial Intelligence and the transformation of consumers into energy producers through initiatives such as rooftop solar systems.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Tathagata Bandyopadhyay, Director General, emphasised the importance of sustainable technological development and highlighted the significance of High Performance Computing in advancing smart energy research. He also spoke about DAU’s High Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster “URJA,” which was formally launched during the event.

The workshop was honoured by the presence of the Chief Guest, Mr. Shashwat Agrawal, Executive Director, Torrent Gas, who delivered an insightful address on self-reliance, renewable energy expansion, energy-efficient data centres, waste-to-energy innovations, and the importance of affordable smart metering systems for sustainable energy management.

A major highlight of the workshop was the launch of DAU’s High Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster “URJA”, marking a significant milestone in strengthening advanced computational research capabilities in smart energy and sustainability.

The event also featured the SELC Research Showcase, including poster presentations and networking sessions, enabling faculty members, research scholars, industry experts, and students to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities.

One of the key attractions of the workshop was the panel discussion on Smart Energy and Sustainability, featuring eminent experts and industry leaders:

• Mr. Abhishek Ranjan, CEO, BSES BRPL
• Mr. Anand Budholia, President – IT & Group CIO, BRPL & BYPL
• Ms. Renu Chandel, Managing Director – Utilities, Strategy and Consulting, Accenture
• Dr. Anil Kumar Dubey, Director, SPRERI
• Prof. Santosh Kumar Vora, Nirma University

The panellists discussed critical themes including smart energy services, data capture and analytics, recycling and reuse strategies, innovation in energy systems, and collaborative approaches for achieving sustainability goals.

The second day of the workshop witnessed engaging technical interactions with renowned experts, including:

• Prof. Naran Pindoriya, IIT Gandhinagar
• Dr. Shantanu Karkari, Scientist, Institute for Plasma Research
• Ms. Renu Chandel, Accenture

The experts interacted extensively with SELC faculty members and research fellows, sharing valuable insights on emerging technologies, research opportunities, and future collaborations. The workshop concluded with a round-table discussion and enriching remarks from the distinguished speakers and experts.

The workshop successfully reaffirmed DAU’s commitment to promoting research excellence, innovation, industry-academia collaboration, and sustainable technological advancement in the domain of smart energy and sustainability.