A. 50th Annual General Meeting of ERDA

The 50^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ERDA was held on September 20, 2024, at hotel The Lalit Mumbai under the chairmanship of Mr. Tapan K. Tripathy, President – ERDA. This milestone event showcased ERDA’s achievements over the past year and outlined future research initiatives, bringing together members from electrical industries, PSUs, and utilities across India.

Mr. Tapan Tripathy opened the meeting with a welcome address, expressing gratitude to stakeholders for their continued support. He reaffirmed ERDA’s commitment to advancing research, delivering exceptional service to the electrical sector, and fostering collaborations that drive progress in India’s power industry.

Key highlights included a presentation on research milestones, a financial overview, upcoming initiatives, and recognitions earned by ERDA. The AGM concluded with an engaging Q&A session, providing attendees an opportunity to interact directly with ERDA’s leadership and gain deeper insights into the organization’s strategic vision.

As per Rule 50 of the Rules & Regulations of the Association, one-third of the members of the Managing Committee elected under sub-rule 48(1)(a) shall retire at every Annual General Meeting and are eligible for re-election.

A total of ten nominations were received for the election of six members to the Managing Committee, who are retiring after completing three years in the year 2023-24. Out of the 10 contestants, Dr. M. Mohana Rao from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Dr. A. J. Chavda from Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO), Mr. Tapan K. Tripathy from Schneider Electric India Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Subodh Kale from Siemens Limited, Mr. Brijesh Patel from GE T&D India Limited, and Mr. Hemang Maheta from UniTrans Power LLP were elected as Managing Committee members. Their tenure as members will be for three years.

B. President’s Speech

At the 50^th Annual General Meeting of the Electrical Research and Development Association (ERDA) on September 20, 2024, Mr. Tapan K. Tripathy highlighted the organization’s significant milestones during its golden jubilee year.

ERDA achieved a 10% revenue growth in 2023-24, reaching ₹73.44 crore, reflecting its leadership in testing, evaluation, and R&D. Key achievements included the grant of an Indian patent for an Automatic Solar Panel Cleaning System and two international patent publications.

To support India’s renewable energy goals, ERDA expanded solar PV module testing facilities, aligning with BIS and IEC standards. It also established a state-of-the-art Product Testing Laboratory in Navsari and a 2400 kVp Impulse Test Facility in Makarpura, enhancing capabilities in transformer and high-voltage equipment testing.

Accredited by NABL, ERDA’s laboratories conducted over 1,000 cable tests, achieved breakthroughs in cable accessory testing, and developed India’s first calibration facility for CT and PT testing up to 400 kV. These advancements underline ERDA’s commitment to excellence in India’s electrical and power sectors.

ERDA’s 2023-24 achievements showcased its commitment to quality testing, innovation, and industry standards.

Key Milestones:

• Impulse Laboratory: Conducted dielectric tests on 50 EHV Class products, tested India’s first 245 kV Vertical Break Disconnect Switch, and performed developmental and safety testing on advanced equipment.
• Motor and Pump Laboratory: Enhanced testing capacity to 132 kW with new equipment and initiated procurement of a 200 kVA inverter test facility.
• Magnetic Materials Laboratory: Completed evaluations for prominent utilities and manufacturers, adding eight new customers, including international clients.
• Appliance Laboratory: Added facilities for testing photovoltaic power systems and batteries under IS standards.

Facility Expansions:

• Rabale Facility: Plans are underway for a new 4 storeyed building.
• New Labs: Construction at Jhajjar’s Model Economic Township (MET) site at Haryana to expand operations in Northern part of India.

Field Services & Research:

• Field services team inspected 371 rooftop solar PV systems for GEDA, Gujarat
• Conducted Power Quality Studies, Root cause Analysis (RCA), and Diagnostic surveys for high-voltage equipment at nuclear and cement plants.

National & International Leadership:

• Represented India in IEC’s HVDC systems technical committee
• Chaired insulated cables committee at CIGRE 2024

These advancements reflect ERDA’s focus on excellence and its growing impact on India’s electrical and power sectors.

ERDA collaborated with IEEMA to develop recommendations on the condition monitoring of Instrument Transformers for BIS standards and worked with the Ministry of Heavy Industries and BIS to enhance Electrical Equipment Quality Control Order (EEQCO) for Low Voltage Switchgear as per IS/IEC 60947 Series.

Key certifications, including ISO 17025, ISO 17020, and ISO 27001, were successfully maintained through rigorous audits across all facilities. NABL assessments at Vadodara, North, and South labs ensured continued accreditations. Additional assessments, such as ISMS surveillance and TEC evaluations, further strengthened ERDA’s compliance standards.

To meet evolving market demands, ERDA planned to expand its infrastructure, adding capabilities for Solar PV Module safety testing, EV battery testing, seismic evaluations, and utility labs in Haryana and Rajkot, among others.

During 2023-24, ERDA organized 10 workshops, engaged over 150 participants, and conducted specialized training sessions for industry leaders. The Business Development team secured ₹2.6 crore in tenders and achieved ₹6 crore revenue from international clients through services like panel and cable testing. Notably, ERDA’s CRM team processed over 42,000 samples and launched a Customer Portal for seamless service delivery.

ERDA celebrated its 50th anniversary through events such as “SAMPARK,” technical seminars, and outreach programs across India. Employee engagement initiatives, including training, cultural celebrations, and sports events, emphasized workforce development.

With contributions to 24 technical papers and speaking engagements at prestigious forums, ERDA reaffirmed its commitment to innovation and knowledge sharing. Visits by international clients and organizations, such as DEWA and Vietstar Meiden, highlighted ERDA’s global collaborations.

ERDA inducted 70 new employees, fostering growth in R&D and testing services. The year also saw significant employee training, including soft skills and technical competencies, clocking over 4,000 man-hours.

ERDA’s achievements underscore its leadership in R&D, testing, and industry collaboration, marking five decades of excellence and service.