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New Delhi : Union Power and MNRE Minister R K Singh on February 7, 2022, virtually launched Powerthon-2022, a hackathon competition under RDSS to find technology driven solutions to solve the complex problems in power distribution and to ensure quality and reliable power supply.

Singh, in his keynote address, said that this programme is much  needed in the power sector. ” We will have a standing body and this innovation will be open and  an ongoing scheme,” he said. He encouraged technologists to come forward not only with solutions to existing problems but also with other  problem statements and ideas for reliable power supply. Singh said that ideas and concepts will be rewarded with licence and development of prototypes will also be fostered, according to a PIB release.

Secretary Power Alok Kumar, CMD REC, along with other senior officials from Ministry of Power, REC, SINE, IIT Bombay were present at the virtual event. DISCOMs and technologists also participated in large numbers.

REC Limited in collaboration with SINE, IIT Bombay, India’s premier technological institute on February 7 announced the launch of the Powerthon-2022, a hackathon competition wherein Technology Solution Providers (TSPs), start-ups, educational institutions, research institute, equipment manufacturers, state power utilities, and other state and central power sector entities, shall be briefed on the current challenges/problem statements faced across the power distribution sector and invited to participate and showcase their technology driven solutions to solve the complex problems.

The hackathon will task participants to find innovative solutions based on advanced emerging technologies like AI/ML, Blockchain, IoT, VR/AR etc on nine (09) themes that have been identified after  discussions and consultations with 14 DISCOMs across 9 states and have been categorized across 9 broad aspects for pilot testing.

The competition will bring together qualified mentors with TSPs, innovators, and other participants from across the nation to create teams that hack for the future and develop solutions which contribute to creating a much more vibrant and efficient electricity network.

Under the competition, an Expert Group and a Technical Committee is being constituted for overall evaluation of the Proof of concept (POC) and selection of TSP. The TSPs will then be actively mentored and a pilot run shall be conducted by the selected TSP for the thematic area. On the success of the pilot run, scale-up avenues will be pursued under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

For each Problem statement, 4-5 TSPS will be shortlisted based on their Proof of Concept (POC) and asked for  pilot at Discom test-bed. If the pilot run is successful, scale-up avenues will be pursued under the RDSS scheme

Powerthon-2022 is being launched in line with the aim of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme introduced by the Ministry of Power, Government of India. RDSS is a Reform-based and Result-linked Scheme introduced by the Ministry of Power and its key objectives are : Reducing Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses to 12-15%, eliminating the ACOS-ARR gap by 2024-25 and improving the quality & reliability of the power supply to build a robust power sector which can amplify the development opportunities in the nation’s quest for a thriving economy, according to a PIB release.