Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury (PPRE 2004-06), Director of Centre for Energy Research at United International University, Bangladesh, received the Smarter Europe Award 2022 on the 10th May, 2022 in Munich, Germany at the start of InterSolar Europe for the Research Pilot Project “SirriS- Smart Solar Irrigation System”, which was developed by the Centre for Energy Research of United International University under his guidance.

Shahriar was honoured to be the Team Leader and Principal Investigator of the research pilot project. He would like to convey his heartfelt thanks to the co-investigators, research engineers for their support and cooperation. Also grateful to World bank and IDCOL for providing the necessary research grant funds for developing the concept in reality.
Additionally he is always indebted to PPRE, Uni Oldenburg for providing the knowledge, opportunities and encouragement for all his activities.

The Smart Solar Irrigation System (SirriS) is a smart, automated field water irrigation system based on solar energy. The system consists smart field parameter sensors like soil moisture, water LEVEL, PH sensors, bi-directional communication system. IoT and artificial intelligence-based decision making system along with mobile / web-based prepayment platform. The system provides remote monitoring, control and pre-payment water billing system (Pay-as-you-go platform). The system has several sensors for sensing field parameters by which the system controls the irrigation water. The system ensures optimum use of water depending upon crop and soil type. It saves excess use of water, saves diesel / electricity and reduces the total carbon footprint for irrigation. It also saves human resources for irrigation purposes as the irrigation can be remotely monitored and controlled through the mobile or web app. The jury of the award committee mentioned that the project has huge environmental and social impact for reducing carbon footprint and saving human resources. The system will also reduce the irrigation cost of the people.

Besides his research team at UIU, Bangladesh received several National and International Awards and recognization for their works and innovation in the past, like: 

• United National’s Momentum for Change Awards, 2016 in CoP 22 Marakkesh, Morocco, 
• Intersolar Award, 2016 in Munich, Germany, 
• Education Leadership Award 2018 in World Education Congress in Mumbai, India, 
• Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association Award 2019 in Shanghai, China; 
• One of their research projects was the finalist of the Asia Pacific ICT Award, 2020. 
• National Power & Energy Week’s Innovation Awards in 2016 and 2018 and BASIS National ICT Award in 2020. 

All the above awards were received for their projects with respect to innovative application of smart Solar PV Technologies.

Contacts:
Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury: shahriar.ac@gmail.com
Web: www.cer.uiu.ac.bd 
ICDRET website: www.icdret.uiu.ac.bd