PDPU to set up School of Nuclear Engg, Solar Energy

The university to create an energy park on campus.

After offering courses for the oil and gas sector through the School of Petroleum Technology and the School of Petroleum Management, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) promoted Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) is all set to establish the School of Nuclear Engineering and the School of Solar Energy, to conduct teaching and research in the technologies needed to supply energy efficiently to meet the modern necessities.

While the School of Nuclear Engineering is said to be launched next year, the institute plans to create an academic and research led environment for solar energy related studies though its Ph.D. programme commencing from July 2009. "This is for the first time in Gujarat that a school will be established with the only objective of focusing on solar energy. Towards this objective, the school plans to develop systems, conduct research and teaching especially in the areas of photovoltaic and photo thermal energy. Presently, we would be offering a capacity seat of 10 students, and we will be sharing the facilities and the campus of the petroleum university," said Naresh Jotwani, director, School of Solar Energy.

According to Jotwani, the school plans to add more courses and programmes as the years go by. "The industry for solar energy is still at a nascent stage now, even though there is a strong prospect for it to grow in the era of climate change. In future, there will be no option but to switch to alternatives in order to conserve energy. We hope the research conducted here will act as the greatest resource for good ideas, so as to create equal or better options for electricity," he added.

The university has been alloted Rs 1 crore for research by the Department of Science and Technology. According to sources, the university is plannning to set up an energy park on its campus.

"We are planning to start the School of Nuclear Engineering next year. Meanwhile, we are planning to establish an energy park on the campus. Currently, we are waiting for the balance land to be available on campus after some pending constructions. Some companies have already promised us models for the park. For example, Suzlon will be donating a windmill model for the energy park and we are in talks with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for some gas pipes to be installed in the park. So far, Rs 85 crore have been invested in the university," said sources close to the development.

The university offers executive training and development programmes. PDPU also has plans to start School of Modeling and Virtual Reality and School of Petroleum Law and Intellectual Property in the near future. "We may come up with the School of Nuclear Engineering by next year," said the source.