Dr. Nisha Dagade | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nisha Dagade | Sinhgad Institutes | India

Dr. Nisha R. Dagade is an accomplished Assistant Professor at Sinhgad Institutes, Pune, India, specializing in electrical power systems with a particular focus on Distributed Generation and Reliability Analysis. Her research emphasizes the optimal integration of renewable DG sources into modern distribution networks, addressing both technical and economic challenges through heuristic and metaheuristic optimization approaches such as Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). Dr. Dagade’s scholarly contributions explore multi-objective frameworks that aim to reduce power losses, improve voltage profiles, and enhance the overall reliability and cost-effectiveness of distribution systems. Her notable work, “Ant colony optimization technique for integrating renewable DG in distribution system with techno-economic objectives,” published in Evolving Systems (2022), has gained significant academic recognition. With a strong research portfolio comprising 10 completed and ongoing projects, 7 Scopus-indexed journal publications, and one published book, and maintains an active research profile with 61 citations, an h-index of 5, and an i10-index of 2 , she continues to advance innovation in the domain of sustainable power systems. She has also collaborated with IIT Bombay on research initiatives that bridge academic insights with real-world applications. Her professional memberships in IAENG and I2OR reflect her active engagement in the global engineering research community. Dr. Dagade’s work embodies the integration of renewable energy technologies for efficient, reliable, and environmentally responsible power system development.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Godha, N. R., Bapat, V. N., & Korachagaon, I. (2022). Ant colony optimization technique for integrating renewable DG in distribution system with techno-economic objectives. Evolving Systems, 13(3), 485–498.
Godha, N. R., Deshmukh, S. R., & Dagade, R. V. (2011). Application of Monte Carlo simulation for reliability cost/worth analysis of distribution system. In 2011 International Conference on Power and Energy Systems (pp. 1–6).
Godha, N. R., Deshmukh, S. R., & Dagade, R. V. (2012). Time sequential Monte Carlo simulation for evaluation of reliability indices of power distribution system. In Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE Symposium on Computers and Informatics (ISCI 2012).
Godha, N. R., Bapat, V. N., & Korachagaon, I. (2019). Placement of distributed generation in distribution networks: A survey on different heuristic methods. In Techno-Societal 2018: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Techno-Societal.
Dagade, N. R. G., Bapat, V. N., & Korachagaon, I. (2020). Improved ACO for planning and performance analysis of multiple distributed generations in distribution system for various load models. In 2020 Second International Sustainability and Resilience Conference.

Mr. Ahmad Usman | Sustainable Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Ahmad Usman | Cranfield University | United Kingdom

Mr. Ahmad Usman is a dedicated PhD student at Cranfield University specializing in coating and corrosion science, with a strong focus on developing advanced materials to protect critical components in power plants under demanding conditions. His research encompasses the fireside-corrosion behavior of thermally sprayed and Ni-based coatings in challenging environments, including chlorine-rich combustion atmospheres, and investigates oxidation, erosion, and wear mechanisms at the microscopic level. Mr. Usman has contributed to advancing knowledge on thermal spray coatings through both academic and industry projects, including his role as Group Innovation Engineer at Welding Alloys Group, UK, and collaborations with the National High Temperature Surface Engineering Centre. He has co-authored book chapters on self-healing elastomers and polymeric paints and coatings, highlighting his expertise in functional polymers. His research interests include real-time monitoring of coating degradation, modeling corrosion kinetics in waste-to-energy (WtE) environments, and optimizing thermal spray coatings to resist high-temperature corrosion, erosion, and wear damage. With a growing citation record and an h-index of 2, Mr. Usman is an active member of the Institute of Corrosion and the Pakistan Engineering Council, demonstrating his commitment to both academic excellence and industrial innovation, while consistently exploring innovative solutions to extend the lifespan and reliability of critical energy infrastructure.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Usman, A., Syed, A., Isern Arrom, L., Nicholls, J., & Cordero, M. (2024, September 5). Degradation of novel coating systems for heat exchanger materials for WtE power plant applications [Conference poster]. EUROCORR 2024, Cranfield University.

Rehan, Z. A., & Usman, A. (2023). Polymeric paints and coatings. In Advanced Functional Polymers. Springer.

Zubair, Z., Usman, A., & Hafeez, A. (2023). Self-healing elastomers. In Advanced Functional Polymers. Springer.

Usman, A. (2021, December 8). Fabrication of low emissivity paint thermal/NIR radiation insulation for domestic applications [Conference poster]. 1st International Conference of Polymers and Composites (ICPC-2021).

Usman, A., Isern Arrom, L., Nicholls, J., Cordero, M., & Syed, A. U. (2025). Fireside corrosion behavior of thermally sprayed coatings for waste-to-energy power plant applications. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance.