8 months ago
NIT Rourkela Develops Hybrid Microgrid for Rural Electrification
Researchers at NIT Rourkela have created a smart energy system that combines solar, wind, biomass, and water power to provide steady electricity to rural homes.
This system is designed to work even when the weather changes, ensuring that families have reliable power for lighting, fans, and other basic needs.
The team tested their invention in the lab and found it can support four households at a time.
Their goal is to bring this technology to more villages, helping to improve education, healthcare, and daily life while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
This innovation supports global goals for clean energy, climate action, and sustainable communities.
NIT Rourkela researchers developed an intelligent hybrid microgrid combining solar, wind, biomass, pico-hydropower, and battery storage to provide stable electricity to rural areas.
The system uses advanced control techniques, including a dual-loop strategy and a hybrid stochastic fractal search-pattern search algorithm, to manage fluctuating renewable energy sources.
The prototype delivers 10 kWh of reliable electricity, enough to support the daily needs of four rural households, including lighting, fans, and basic appliances.
The research was published in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications on 9 October 2025, authored by Ananya Pritilagna Biswal, Prof Arnab Ghosh, and Prof Krishna Roy.
The innovation aims to improve education, healthcare, and daily life in rural communities while supporting global sustainable development goals for clean energy and climate action.
- Who
- Researchers from NIT Rourkela, led by Prof Arnab Ghosh and including Ananya Pritilagna Biswal and Prof Krishna Roy
- What
- Developed an intelligent hybrid microgrid system combining multiple renewable energy sources
- Where
- NIT Rourkela, with field insights from Sundargarh district in Odisha, India
- When
- The research was published on 9 October 2025
- Why
- To provide stable, reliable, and clean electricity to rural areas with inconsistent power supply
Key facts
- Institution
- NIT Rourkela
- Lead Researcher
- Prof Arnab Ghosh
- Research Scholar
- Ananya Pritilagna Biswal
- Publication Date
- 9 October 2025
- Journal
- IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications
- Energy Output
- 10 kWh
- Households Supported
- 4
- Renewable Sources
- Solar, Wind, Biomass, Pico-Hydropower, Battery Storage
Quotes
Ananya Pritilagna Biswal
Research scholar at NIT Rourkela and co-developer of the intelligent hybrid microgrid system.
“This was completely new for me. I learnt everything, from fabrication and component selection to embedded systems and control techniques. Choosing to pursue this PhD has been one of the best decisions of my life, as it has given me the opportunity to use my skills for my state and for the country.”
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“This innovation will not only create a positive impact in rural areas but also hold strong commercial potential. By ensuring a reliable electricity supply, it can generate employment opportunities and improve the overall quality of life for rural communities.”
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Arnab Ghosh
Professor at NIT Rourkela and lead researcher on the hybrid microgrid project.
“We come from Sundargarh district in Odisha, a largely tribal region where many families come from underprivileged backgrounds. In several remote, hilly, and forested regions, extending conventional grid connections is often not feasible. Seeing these realities firsthand motivated us to design a multi-renewable integrated system that can generate electricity locally and reliably.”
thebetterindia.com
“Our aim is simple: to ensure that clean power can run basic domestic appliances and improve everyday life. This work is deeply rooted in societal needs, and we believe it can create meaningful impact for communities that have long remained on the margins.”
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