Thrust Areas Research

Identifying the impact of cycling loading on power plant components due to increased renewable penetration in the grid.
Online coal sampling.
Technological advances in syngas cleaning especially at higher temperature in IGCC (Integrated gasification Combined Cycle) Technology.
Utilization of Waste Heat Recovery technologies for enhancing the power plant efficiency.
Improvement of Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) performance.
Advanced surface engineering technologies for higher life expectancy of thermal power plant components.
High temperature wear and erosion resistance of thermal components (Burner, liner and shield etc.)
Design & Development of Last Stage Steam Turbine Blades and balancing of flue gas flow inside boiler for Improved Performance.
Boiler combustion Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling of sub and Supercritical boilers.
Development of Nano particles for application in high thermal coefficient lubricants, additives in water to reduce evaporation losses.
Advanced Non –destructive testing/Non-destructive examination (NDT/NDE) based diagnostics and inspection tools for condition assessment of plant components such as In-situ inspection of Low Pressure (LP) Turbine Blades by Ultrasonic Phased Array.
Establishment of Advanced facilities for coal combustion / blended coal combustion evaluation studies.
Development of technologies for on-line measurements of coal flow, fineness, heating value, and balancing for combustion optimization in utility boilers, sensor systems for online fuel calorific value and un-burnt carbon in ash measurement.
Robotic Inspection of inaccessible/congested/hazardous areas inside boilers and other enclosures.
New improved methods of prevention of scaling on turbine blades and piping system in thermal power plants.
Application of Nano technologies in thermal power plant
Application of latest technologies such as Drone/LiDAR, Robotics, Phasor Matching Units in power plants
Emission control technologies including control/mitigation of Nitrous Oxides (NOx), Sulphur Oxides (Sox) emissions.
Feasibility study on Co-firing of Biomass in conventional thermal plants

The following are the R&D areas for focus:

New superior erosion resistant materials for hydro turbine blades and runner.
Application of GIS/GPS in River Flow Discharge Measurement, flood forecasting.
Analysis and Monitoring of Cavitation phenomenon.
Integrated operation of Cascade Hydro Power projects.
Rock Stabilization Techniques for large size caverns.
Tunneling in Soft Rocks/Fragile Himalayan Geology.
Measures to tackle Bad Geology during Excavation of Tunnels and Construction of Dam Foundation and Cut off Wall.
Problems due to Silting in Hydro plants-R&D for Turbine components etc.
Studies on benefits of Pump Storage Plant (PSP) in Indian context, particularly keeping in view the large capacity addition through variable renewable power generation.
Analysis measures to increase service life for Silt Flushing Gates, Numerical Flow Simulation, Performance Optimization of Hydro Plant components and for Improving Desilting Chamber Efficiency using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
Technology for Spilt Runners / Site Fabrication of Runners.
Development of Facilities for Large Size/Weight Casting and Forging.
Development of Shaft Seal for Silty Water.
Generator Modernization to Increase Efficiency.
Site assembly and acceptance testing of 400 kV Generator-Transformer (GT).
Monitoring System for On-line Measurement of Turbine Efficiency
Simulation and development of Test Facility to Study the performance of Coating Material Characteristics.
Development of PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) Material.
Measures to tackle Corrosion/Erosion Problems in Acidic Water.
Construction Methodology for Arch Dams.
Excavation of Large Size Cavern with Stabilization Technology.
Measures to tackle bad geology in Dam Foundation and Cutoff Wall.
The causes of pressure recovery loss near the best efficiency point in draft tube.
Dynamic pressure distribution and comparison between conventional and splitter blade runner.
Fluid-structure interaction of guide vanes, vibration, and magnitude of forces on guide vane spindle of Francis turbine.
Fluctuations in vane less space during turbine runner acceleration or deceleration and optimization of movement of guide vanes during turbine start-up after emergency shutdown of the Francis turbine.
Transient dynamic behavior and runner blade loading during no-load run/ runway, load rejection, and start-up as well as shutdown of the Francis turbine. A strategic start-up and shutdown technique of the Francis turbine may be developed.
Numerical Flow Simulation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools for Hydro Turbine Optimization and Enhanced Efficiency
Finding non-intrusive methods of assessing the sub-surface geology

The research on UHV DC +/- 800 kV transmission system and above covering the following aspects: (1) DC electric field, corona studies on equipment and electrodes; (2) Effect of pollution on insulator surface; selection of insulator profile, configuration to withstand DC stress under normal and polluted conditions. (3) Performance of bushings under DC electric stress. (4) Effects of DC stress on transformer insulation, ageing studies, diagnostic tools.
Development of controllers for Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices.
A pilot project for ascertaining the advantages of process bus technology over the conventional station bus technology. Studies for integration of optical current transformers in place of conventional current transformer.
Performance improvement of Bushings and transformers.
Real time Power System Simulator.
System Security and Operator Training software and simulation tools.
Gas Insulated Transmission Lines (GITL).
EHV Cables and submarine cables for bulk power transmission.
Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System (SMES).
High Quality pressboard insulation for transformers
Resin Impregnated Paper (RIP) bushing.
SF6 filled large capacity power transformer technology.
GIS mapping of assets.
Novel method of Load and Energy Forecasting.
Mitigation of power system harmonics at transmission and distribution levels and improvement of power quality at distribution level.
Transformer-less HVDC transmission.
Development of Emergency Restoration System (ERS).
High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Technology in Power Sector.
Electromagnetic interference with Radio, TV and Communication signals.
Biodegradable Insulation/ lubricating Oil for Transformer/ Turbo-Generator.
Intelligent Cyber Security related software solution and its application to power sector.
Implementation of Big Data technology in Power Sector including Renewable and Micro-grid.
Use of Robotics and Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV e.g. DRONE) in construction, supervision, operation and maintenance of power system equipment in difficult and inaccessible areas.
Gas Insulated Lines (GIL) for last mile connectivity

Manual design of Distribution networks is a labor-intensive activity. There is a strong need to standardize and promote design automation techniques which would reduce costs and improve performance. The future research initiatives for power distribution automation are:

Customer Level Intelligent Automation System.
Planning tool for distribution network.
Computer Aided Monitoring and Control of Distribution Transformers.
Substation and Feeder Level Automation.
Data communication system for Distribution Automation.
Development and Standardization of Distribution Automation software.

Load Shedding facilities by deployment of smart grid, which will be more selective and enable the system operator to shed non-essential loads, while maintaining service to critical loads.
Development of security and Protection system, which includes ability to operate the feeder through remote control with possibility of load control in response to under-frequency conditions and voltage collapse.
Need for development of organic polymer based electroluminescent light sources, which could compete with High power silicon based light emitting devices.
Development of energy efficient, cost-effective, reliable and future ready LEDs as per requirement of domestic environmental conditions
Study impact on power quality due to large scale integration of renewables
High speed charging of electric vehicles
Development of material for high capacity energy storage systems.
Comparative study of forced outage rates of Distribution feeders using Aerial Bunched Cables and conventional conductors.
Comparative study of the losses and reliability levels of Distribution Transformers(say 25 kVA and 100 kVA) using:

Fresh CRGO from the mill
Scrap/defective CRGO from various sources.

Comparative study of the losses and reliability levels of:

Dry Type Distribution Transformers
Oil immersed Distribution Transformers

Comparative study of reliability levels of Distribution Transformers using:

CRGO core
Amorphous core

Development of material for insulation, core, winding, tank etc. which can reduce size of Transformers.
Study of the quality of power supply in typical areas having different load mix like IT based load, areas having sizeable irrigation pump sets, areas having industrial load, especially, electric arc furnaces; and traction supply etc.
Evaluation of performance of mineral oil filled, dry type and K-class oil filled distribution transformers with a view to ascertain the field performance in respect of fire and related hazards.
Appropriate tariff models, which will be able to factor in charges based on time-of-day (TOD) and peak energy versus average energy consumption.
Development of online monitoring systems for substation equipment (like transformers, circuit breakers, CTs, etc.) to get early warning of failures.
Energy Storage Devices: Large capacity Power Storage Technology.

Development of Solar PV and Wind forecasting technologies
Solar PV performance and degradation studies
Micro grid and integration of renewable energy into the grid.
Interconnection of Micro grids at distribution voltage level and control of power flow between micro grids.
Indigenous development of cost effective floaters for floating solar plants.
PV degradation studies and identification of best-suited technology for maximum solar PV generation.
Indigenous development of wet and dry robotic cleaning system for PV modules. .
Development of super hydrophobic coatings for PV modules.
Utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS) Drone & Li DAR for PV Plant inspection.
Utilization of concentrated solar thermal energy for Cooking systems, desalination and cooling systems.
Development of solar thermal and fossil fuel based hybrid power plants.
Synchronization of roof top solar and micro generation to the grid.
Reactive power management at the level of micro grid and distribution system and its contribution towards the stability of the grid.
Impact of climate, weather, geography, seasonal and other factors on renewable energy generation.
Impact of socio-economic factors & life style of society at different strata on the usage pattern of energy at distribution level.
Suitability of Pico hydropower in isolated hilly areas/villages of India.
Fuel cell development.
Electric Mobility issues – development of super-efficient batteries with fast charging capabilities suitable for transport application.
Indigenization of Concentrated Solar power technology
Increase use of Floating Solar Photo Voltaic and Building integrated Photo voltaic
Application of Nano technologies for power plant applications
Bio Mass and Bio Fuel for energy generation
Waste to Energy conversion
Mechanism for safe disposal and recycling of solar PV panels to counter the related environmental pollution.
Impact of large scale integration of renewables into the Grid
Road top solar plants
Development of methodology/equipment to detect micro cracks in solar cells
Smart utilization of solar and wind farm inverters as FACTS devices in grid integrated renewable energy

A. Hydro Power & Pumped Storage

Sl. No.

Major Thrust Area

Key R&D Coverage

Flexible Operation of Hydro Turbines

Expansion of safe and efficient operating range; operation under part-load, rapid ramping and off-design conditions.

Mitigation of Rough Operating Zones

Hydraulic instability, vibration, pressure pulsation, fatigue and mitigation of rough operating regions.

Reduction of Minimum Stable Operating Load

Turbine and control optimisation to enable lower stable generation for grid balancing.

Variable-Speed Hydro and Pumped Storage Systems

Variable-speed generators, power converters, control and optimisation of pumping/generating modes.

Advanced Pumped Storage Technologies

New configurations, system optimisation, flexible operation and integration of PSPs with variable renewable energy.

Hydrokinetic Turbines and River/Canal Energy Systems

Indigenous hydrokinetic turbine design; low-head/free-stream energy conversion; turbine–resource matching; performance, reliability and integration with storage/other renewables.

Multi-Source Renewable Integration with Pumped Storage

Synergistic optimisation of hydrokinetic, floating PV, offshore/onshore renewables and PSPs.

Cavitation and Hydraulic Instability Mitigation

Cavitation, vortex phenomena, pressure fluctuations and optimisation of turbine hydraulic performance.

Silt Erosion and Sediment Management

Silt-resistant designs/materials; desilting; sediment interaction with turbines and life assessment.

Advanced Anti-Corrosion/Anti-Acidic Materials

Materials and coatings for underwater components exposed to low-pH/aggressive water environments.

Advanced Hydro Turbine Design and Optimisation

CFD-based design; runner optimisation; efficiency improvement and advanced hydraulic machinery.

Transient Behaviour of Hydro Units

Start-up, shutdown, load rejection, runaway, water hammer and dynamic loading.

Digital Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance

Online condition monitoring, digital twins, AI/ML analytics and remaining-life assessment.

Hydrological Forecasting and Generation Planning

Weather/inflow forecasting, GIS/remote sensing and improved reservoir/generation scheduling.

Cascade and Reservoir System Optimisation

Coordinated operation of multiple hydro stations and basin-level optimisation.

Climate-Resilient Hydro Infrastructure

Floods, sediment changes, extreme rainfall, water chemistry and climate-induced operational risks.

Advanced Construction and Underground Technologies

Tunnels, caverns, foundations, rock stabilisation and construction in difficult geological conditions.

B. Transmission

Sl. No.

Major Thrust Area

Key R&D Coverage

EHV/UHV Multi-Circuit Transmission Lines and Towers

Indigenous design of multi-circuit transmission towers/lines; compact geometry; electrical and mechanical optimisation; reduced RoW; tower loading; clearances; EMF/corona; reliability and constructability.

Compact and Reduced-RoW Transmission Systems

Compact towers, narrow corridors, optimised conductor arrangements and solutions for urban/forest/right-of-way constrained locations.

High-Capacity and Advanced Conductors

HTLS and new conductor materials; uprating existing corridors; thermal/mechanical performance and ageing.

Dynamic Line Loading / Rating

Real-time line ampacity; weather and sensor-based loading; thermal models and adaptive operation.

HVDC Transmission Technologies

LCC/VSC HVDC; converter systems; controls, protection and indigenous component development.

Multi-Terminal and Advanced DC Transmission

Multi-terminal HVDC architecture; coordination, controls, DC protection and interoperability.

UHVAC Technologies

High-voltage equipment, insulation coordination and system design for UHV transmission.

FACTS and Dynamic Grid-Support Equipment

STATCOM, SVC and other reactive-power/flexible-transmission technologies.

EHV Underground and Submarine Cable Systems

Cable systems, accessories, diagnostics and technologies for difficult terrain and offshore RE evacuation.

Advanced Substations

GIS, hybrid AIS/GIS, compact substations and advanced electrical installations.

Digital Substations

IEC 61850 process bus; digital protection/control; optical sensors; interoperability and cyber-secure architecture.

Advanced Insulation and Bushings

RIP/RIS bushings, coatings, hydrophobic surfaces, insulation ageing and fire-safe designs.

Environment-Friendly Insulation Technologies

Alternatives to conventional high-GWP insulating gases and sustainable dielectric materials.

Transformer and Reactor Life Management

Condition assessment, diagnostics, health indexing, failure analysis and residual-life estimation.

Transmission-Line and Substation Robotics

Autonomous robots, UAVs, machine vision and AI-based inspection.

GIS, Remote Sensing and Spatial Decision Support

Route alignment, asset mapping, vegetation monitoring, disaster vulnerability and geospatial analytics.

Advanced Asset Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance

AI/ML analytics, health assessment, image processing and real-time condition monitoring.

Fault Current Limiting Technologies

Advanced fault-current limiters and associated system integration.

Transmission System Resilience

Technologies for cyclone, flood, snow, avalanche, landslide and other extreme conditions.

Advanced Testing, Simulation and HIL for Transmission

Real-time simulation of HVDC/FACTS/protection; PMU/WAMS validation and digital-substation testbeds.

EMF, Corona and Environmental Performance

Electromagnetic field, corona, audible noise and environmental performance of EHV/UHV lines.

Thrust Areas Research

Thermal Generation

Hydro Generation

A. Hydro Power & Pumped Storage

B. Transmission