INTRODUCTION
Today’s civilization depends largely upon the availability of energy and its consumption. It has become an essential infrastructural component for sustaining the economic development and improving the quality of life. Electricity is one of the important inputs required for the social, economic and industrial development. It is predicted that the consumption of total marketed energy will expand from 549 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2012 to 629 quadrillion Btu in 2020 and to 815 quadrillion Btu in 2040 — a 48% increase from 2012 to 2040. This will essentially require the augmentation of electricity generation capacity along with the stringent regulations for the optimal use of electricity and minimum impact on environment. Number of existing options for power generation such as coal based thermal power plants, gas turbine based power plants, combined cycle power plants, hydro power plants, nuclear power plants and power plants based on the non-conventional resources are being continually tried upon for improving their performances and outputs across the world. In fact, there exists sufficient scope for increasing the contribution of the different types of power plants in total power requirement for overall increase in power generation capacity. Presently, with the existing generation capacity power sector management issues requiring serious attention are the optimum power utilization, prevention of power theft, inadequate and very old transmission & distribution networks, tariff structures and poor grid discipline etc.
Forthcoming International conference is an effort in the direction of providing a forum for the exchange of the challenges and technological developments in the energy and environment sector across the world.