Indian power representatives successfully trained

In the course of an one-week training at the KWS PowerTech Training Centre, Indian experts familiarized themselves with flexible power plant operation both theoretically and practically.

Theory, power plant visits and exchange of experience were the focus of the flexibility training for ten Indian power experts. The training, which took place from 10 to 14 December 2018 in Essen, was organized jointly by the KWS PowerTech Training Centre, the indische Excellence Enhancement Centre (EEC) and the VGB PowerTech e.V. on behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The Indian group consisted of representatives of power plant operators and the Ministry of Power and its associated institutions.

In the course of an one-week training at the KWS PowerTech Training Centre, Indian experts familiarized themselves with flexible power plant operation both theoretically and practically.

The theoretical part of the training focused on simulator training. Here the participants learned how to operate at fast load cycles, high load ramps and minimum load. During the site visits to the Herdecke pumped storage hydro plant and the Neurath lignite-fired power station – both are operated by RWE – the Indian colleagues were able to gain practical experience in the flexible power plant operation. Visits to the Uniper headquarter in Duesseldorf and the Siemens steam turbine and generator manufacturing in Mülheim completed the practical part of the training week.

Training – central theme for the Indo-German Energy Forum

The training was conducted under the auspices of the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF). Training for Indian power plant operators is an important field of action for the IGEF in order to enable the flexible operation of coal-fired power plants. Such flexibility is an important prerequisite for the development of renewable energy capacities in India – this capacity is expected to rise from the current 72,000 MW to 175,000 MW by 2022. In the coming months further training programs in India under the title "Flexpert Training For Flexible Operation of Coal Fired Power Plants" are planned. In line with the motto "Train the Trainer", they aim to train local flexibility experts or "flexperts" to qualify them for holding own trainings. These programs will be managed by EEC.