Simulator training is green training

Welcome to the Latest Issue of Zen-The Simulator Edge!

Quick Summary

In this edition of the Newsletter, we’re thrilled to spotlight a unique and an impactful perspective on simulator training. Often known for its efficiency and safety benefits, simulation-based training offers an even deeper value – ‘environmental sustainability’. We’ll explore how shifting training to simulators not only reduces training time and costs, but also, dramatically cuts greenhouse gas emissions, making it a true ‘Green Training’ solution. This rather lesser known virtue of simulators has a potential to add ‘big value’ right at the national level. A value so colossal, that it may be seen as a green revolution of sorts!?

Read on to explore how the contours of this revolution encompass Zen’s pioneering collaboration with TERI to a compelling new study findings. Join us as we delve into how simulator training can drive a greener and a cleaner future for national defence and beyond. We assure you an exciting read.

What is well-known across the spectrum of Armed, Police and Para Military forces across boundaries is, that simulation-based training is a boon that can address multiple training challenges being faced by the forces on a daily basis

Be it the requirement to conduct realistic training in drastically reduced time available to the trainees today, or be it cutting cost of training hugely by saving on costs of live ammunition and infrastructure, simulators are the ‘go-to’ solutions today. No wonder therefore, that the Govt of India, way back in Sep 2021, in recognition of the place of simulators in military training, came out with a cardinal Policy titled, Framework for Simulators in Armed Forces. A Policy that envisions a simulation-based training across all military domains and lays down the Framework for ushering a simulator culture in the forces.

This vision is currently under implementation and Zen Technologies Limited is in the forefront of realizing this vision of the Govt by providing an entire range of combat training solutions both in India and globally.

As said, there is yet another strength of simulators and that is their stellar contribution in sustaining the environment? Let’s dig deeper.

Simply put, simulation-based training minimises many requirements associated with the conduct of conventional training in the field. Some of these include the need to fire live ammunition and the need to ply hundreds of tanks, BMPs, load carriers, gun-towers, troop transport and more for the conduct of field training. It also dwarfs the need to switch on huge radars and other conventional sensors and above all, the fuel-guzzling generators on a daily basis for training. All these activities throw up huge amount of gases, such as, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc. in the atmosphere. These gases that go under the name of Green House Gases (GHGs) trap the earth’s heat from escaping causing global warming and climate change

By minimising the needs as stated above, Simulation-based training saves hugely on GHG emissions thus promoting environmental sustainability. Besides environmental costs, GHGs have tremendous economic costs as well. It is for this reason that simulation-based? training is called Green Training.

With a mission to promote Green Training awareness across board, Zen Technologies Limited partnered with TERI, the National level body in the forefront of energy, environment and sustainable development. TERI or The Energy and Resource Institute was commissioned by Zen to carry out a joint Study aimed at analysing and quantifying the environmental sustainability impact of various Zen simulators in use with the armed forces.

The results of the Study were astounding. It showed how crores of rupees can be saved in GHG emissions if only a part of field-based training is switched to simulators.

The key findings of the Study presented on the World Environment Day on 05 Jun 2023 were very well received by participants, stakeholders, Think Tanks and the Armed Forces all of whom were well represented on the launch of the Study Report. Here is a grab of the Key Findings of the Study.

TERI in association with Zen Technologies undertook a comprehensive sustainability benefits through use of simulators for India armed forces

• Launch of Report on 5th June, 2023 on the occasion of World Environment Day?
• Presentation to CDS?
• Presentation to IDS?

• Driving Training Simulator ?

At the regiment and squadron level, simulator saves 1919 tons and 640 tons of CO2eq, respectively over the life of 30 years.?

Regiment and squadron levels, simulator saves INR 136 crores & INR 42 crores over a period of 30 years and INR 4.54 crores and INR 1.40 crores per annum?

• Field Crew Gunnery Training Simulator?

At the regiment and squadron level, simulator saves 3676 tons and 1225 tons of CO2eq, respectively over the life of 30 years.?

Regiment and squadron levels, simulator saves INR 381 crores & INR 124 crores over a period of 30 years and INR 12.7 crores and INR 4.13 crores per annum

• Light 4 Wheeler Vehicle Simulator?

At a regiment level a simulator is able to save total carbon emissions 103 tonnes of CO2eq. that translated to INR 3.8 lakhs.? ?

Thus one driving simulator could provide total savings of INR 56 lakhs over a period of 15 years and INR 3.75 lakhs per annum at a regiment level?

• Advance weapons simulator? ?

50% transition of live small arm firing to simulator, the total savings over a period of 10 years has been estimated at INR 2.4 crores and INR 24.60 lakhs & 55 tons of GHG?

For Zen Technologies Limited, there has been no looking back on promotion of Green Training awareness. Emboldened by the positive findings of the first Study, Zen has again partnered with TERI to embark on Phase 2 of the Study. This Study, which is currently in progress, has a much wider scope. In that, it not only takes into its fold a much larger sample of simulators, it also aims to get the pulse of the environment by assessing the total demand of simulators in the Services starting with the Army. For this, a series of one-on-one interactions have been planned with top leadership of the Army, as well as, with various Director Generals of the Directorates who are the major users of simulators.

As Phase 2 Study gets underway, new ground-breaking findings are emerging. For instance, the Study reveals that firing of just one round of INSAS generates 226 g of GHG. Imagine firing millions of rounds of small arms every single training year not to talk of heavier calibre rounds of artillery, air defence and mechanised forces etc.

Against this backdrop, imagine the good which Zen simulators can produce in sustaining the environment. Infantry Weapon Training Simulator (IWTS) for small arms and Integrated Air Defence Combat Simulator (IADCS) for air defence, instantly come to mind as two ‘Big saviours’ of environmental pollution.

Big saviours of environmental pollution

Did you know what the unique takeaway of Green Training is? It is its relationship to costs. While all other Green Initiatives such as waste management, renewable energy, smart buildings etc. have costs associated to it, Green training ?ends up saving huge costs in terms of saved GHG emissions.

The good news is that green training initiatives mentioned above are getting their due recognition at the national level. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is taking up the cause of Green Initiatives Awareness and call for action by bringing all stakeholders at one platform in a Workshop that is likely to be organised shortly. Need we say that Green Training will be one of the major agendas in this Workshop.

It is indeed a matter of great pride that Zen Technologies is in the forefront of Green Training Initiatives and is making its humble contribution towards environmental sustainability. ?

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