Day 4 of the IEEE Summer School on Emerging Photovoltaic Technologies
Date: 25th of July 2023
The fourth day of the IEEE Summer School on Emerging Photovoltaic Technologies, organized by the IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter in collaboration with the IEEE EDS/NTC Student Branch Chapter of the University of Jaffna, took place on 25th of July 2023, from 8 AM to 4 PM, at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna. Around 90 students participated in the event, which included a field visit to the Renewable Energy Hub at the Kilinochchi Campus of the University of Jaffna. The hub houses Sri Lanka’s first floating solar panel, providing participants with a real-world application of photovoltaic (PV) technology. Attendees learned about the design, construction, and operation of the floating solar panel and had the opportunity to meet the engineers and researchers responsible for developing the hub.
The day featured two keynote sessions. Eng. Ranjith Sepala, Chairperson of the Sustainable Energy Authority, Sri Lanka, delivered an illuminating address on the imperative shift towards sustainable energy solutions, highlighting the need to combat climate change and the depletion of fossil fuel resources. Eng. Selvarajah Prabaharan, Deputy General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board, Northern Province, Sri Lanka, shared insights into the dynamic world of energy, focusing on challenges and innovative solutions in the sector.
The event also included practical demonstrations on solar fitting, site visits to renewable energy projects such as a rooftop solar PV pilot project, a grid-connected wind turbine, a solar measuring centre, a solar floating pilot plant, a biogas pilot project, and the Palai Wind Farm. These activities emphasised hands-on learning and showcased the potential of renewable energy technologies in transforming the energy landscape.
Image 1 (Click to view full size)