Education

Area of specialization

Renewable Energy Technologies (Biomass Conversion Systems Design and Development)

Environment Engineering

Professional Experience

Work Experience

A. TEACHING

Course Development:

Developed course curriculum for the Ph D programme in Energy Science & Technology, in association with a consultant from Texas A&M, University, USA. Later on developed two introductory courses on Renewable Energy for the B Tech Agricultural Engineering Programme of College of Agricultural Engineering, PAU, Ludhiana.

Courses Taught:

Taught biomass energy management courses to the PG & UG students of Energy Science & Technology (1985-2009) and Agricultural Engineering (From 1995-2004).

Guidance to PH D Students:

I was on the advisory committee of 24 students, who completed their PhD in Energy Science & Technology, Farm power and Machinery and Agricultural processing.

B. RESEARCH

Publications:

Above 175 research papers in International, National Journals and in the proceedings of international and national conferences and symposia. Also contributed chapters for eight books in the area of renewable energy and bio-diversity.

Research Projects Handled:

• Formulated, successfully defended for funding and worked as PI/CoPI/Project leader, in 14 Project funded by ICAR, MNER, Dept. of food Processing, PSEB, PEDA etc.

• PI of three projects funded by international agencies i.e. UNDP & SEDA.

• An All India Co-ordinated research project on Renewable Energy Sources, funded by ICAR, Govt.of India is operational in 26 centres in the Country. I remained the PI of the Thermo-Chemical Conversion Technology component of the project from 1988 to 2002.

Foreign Assignments

1. Visiting Professor, at University of California Davis, USA, under a UNDP/FAO sponsored project, for a period of three months in 1986. During this period a project funded by UNDP on the determination of reactor scaling factors for rice husk gasifier was completed.

2. UNDP/FAO fellow at Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, for advanced training in the area of biomass gasification technology for a period of three months in 1990. During that period a mega project on Stand Alone Fuel Cell Power Plant for Rural Electrification in India was formulated and submitted to SIDA (Sweden) and ICAR (India) for funding. The project was later approved and was operated in three Indian Institutions and Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.

3. SIDA/ICAR fellowship at Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden in 1995 for advanced training in the area of fuel cell technology, for a period of two months.

Representation in Important National/State level Committees

• Chairman, State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), Punjab, constituted by the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India, for appraisal of all Industrial & Commercial projects in the state from environment point of view (2007-2010).

• Expert member of Consortium Advisory Committee (CAC) constituted by ICAR, Govt. of India, for the NAIP entitled “Value chain biomass based decentralized power generation for agro enterprises”

• Member of the state level committee to coordinate the activities & Policies related to bio-fuel production, with different departments/agencies, and to hold periodic review (2007-2009).

• Member, board of studies of University School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Panjab University Chandigarh; Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology; Punjab Technical University; National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar for ME and PhD programmes in Energy Science and Technology.

• Member, R & D Committee of MNES, Govt. of India, to prepare policy and guidelines for research and development activities in the area of gasification and combustion of biomass (1988-92).

• Principal Investigator, All India Coordinated Research Project on Renewable Energy Sources (Thermo-Chemical Conversion Technology component), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Govt. of India (1989-2002).

• Principal Investigator, All India Coordinated Research Project on Renewable Energy Sources (Thermo-Chemical Conversion Technology component), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Govt. of India (1989-2002).

• Member, Governing Body of Pushpa Gujaral Science City, Kapurthala.

Representation in Institutional Committees

• Member, Academic Council Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (2008-2009)

• Member, board of studies College of Agricultural engineering & technology, PAU Ludhiana.

• Member Secretary, Governing Council, SSS-NIRE.

• Chairman, R&D Committee, SSS-NIRE.

• Chairman, Building & Works Committee, SSS-NIRE.

• Chairman Standing Technical Committee, SSS-NIRE

Association with Professional Societies:

Life Member of the following professional societies

1. IIChE (Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers)

2. ISAE (Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers)

3. ISTE (Indian Society for Technical Education)

4. BESI (bio energy Society of India)