PDB offers to launch research collaboration with Buet

The Power Development Board (PDB) has offered to embark on research collaboration with Buet to develop cost-effective power technology and prepare the next generation of technical manpower required in the power sector, which is set to expand rapidly in the next five years.
PDB is willing to spend up to Tk two crore each year to fund thesis projects of graduate and postgraduate students of the Electrical Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), said PDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir.
This initiative is the first of its kind for any technology-dependent state-owned sectors, which are typically not linked with the country's higher education system.
The Power Development Board has given this proposal to Buet on October 27, stating that PDB would provide all the required funds for the studies, as it is expected that they would play a major role in the development of this sector.
PDB is set to make a similar offer to the Mechanical Engineering Department of Buet in late December, thereby establishing direct link between one of the country's top educational institutes and the power sector.
"We have also proposed to have Buet students in different installations of PDB on internship and industry placement terms," said Kabir.
"This will give the students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Also, the PDB might be able to provide jobs for some of them in the future."
The thesis subjects include (a) cost-effective and efficient LED lamp development, (b) cost-effective and efficient grid and non-grid solar power development, (c) wind power potential analysis, (d) cost-effective and efficient home-based wind power project, (e) cost-effective and efficient tidal power project, (f) innovative and effective micro-hydro project development, (g) cost-effective and efficient wave power project, (h) efficiency improvement of existing BPDB power plants, (i) system protection and control, (j) least cost power generation and (k) audio and video conferencing: least cost solution.
The PDB proposal followed a presentation of paper by Alamgir Kabir on 'Cooperation between Academy and Industry: BPDB & Buet for power sector development' at a workshop at the Electrical Engineering Department on October 22.
Adviser to the prime minister on energy Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, who was present at the workshop, had proposed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Buet and PDB on inter-organisational cooperation.
The government has set a new target to improve energy efficiency and install power plants to generate around 7000 megawatt of electricity in order to meet the country's ever increasing power demand.
To achieve these goals and manage the country's power sector, PDB would need a large number of technical manpower. PDB already has around 5,000 vacant posts.