Latest news with #EnergyDialogues
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India must become more energy-efficient for sustainable growth: IIT-Jodhpur director
1 2 Nagpur: By increasing the share of renewables, electrifying end-use sectors, and utilizing biomass-enabled carbon capture, India could potentially save 36.9 GW of energy demand, said Avinash Kumar Agarwal, director of IIT-Jodhpur, on Tuesday. Agarwal, who was delivering the keynote address at the 'Energy Dialogues: Clean. Viable. Inclusive' workshop organized by CSIR-Neeri, stressed India must become more energy-efficient to ensure sustainable growth. G Sridhar, director general, SSS-NIBE, Kapurthala, and Thallada Bhaskar, director, CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal, were the guests of honour. "Energy consumption is directly tied to economic growth," Agrawal said, noting that India's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are low. Referring to India's Panchamrit goals, he said, "While we are aiming for 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, India's high coal consumption (400 million tonnes/year) necessitates the development of efficient coal technologies, including exploring high-ash coal and hydrogen (blue to green), for future energy solutions. " He urged scientists to focus on the development of green fuels compatible with IC engines to facilitate a more inclusive and sustainable energy transition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Neeri director S Venkata Mohan stressed energy access is a fundamental right. Neeri chief scientist Nitin Labhsetwar said, "India must chart its own low-emission growth path, rather than blindly emulating Western models." Later, Agarwal chaired a session moderated by Labhsetwar, which brought together leading scientists and innovators committed to tackling climate change with home-grown solutions. The central theme of the discussion was how Neeri is gearing up to take sustainability to the next level with several ambitious initiatives. The institute is focusing heavily on scaling up carbon capture technologies that can reduce industrial emissions effectively, alongside developing integrated solar-biomass hybrid energy systems designed to maximise clean power generation even in rural areas. The panellists made it clear that these projects are not just lab experiments but are being designed for real-world impact solutions that will reach communities, industries and policymakers alike. Amit Bansiwal, chief scientist at Neeri, spoke passionately about the institute's roadmap to embed sustainability across every stage of a product's life cycle, ensuring environmental responsibility is built into development from the ground up. Avneesh Anshul, principal scientist at Neeri, emphasised Neeri's commitment to making clean technologies accessible and practical for India's diverse population, highlighting collaborations with industry partners to bring innovations from pilot stages to large-scale adoption. S Venkata Mohan outlined plans to strengthen grass roots innovation, encouraging local solutions that align with national sustainability goals. The event concluded on an optimistic note, reinforced by LITU VC Atul Vaidya's call for a science-driven future that balances innovation with social and environmental needs.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Neeri's energy dialogues: Top scientists to brainstorm on sustainable transitions
Nagpur: In response to escalating climate urgency and soaring energy demands, the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) has convened a one-day brainstorming session, 'Energy Dialogues: Clean. Viable. Inclusive', on Tuesday at a city hotel. The event will bring together leading scientists from IITs, NITs, and premier institutions, including IIT Jodhpur director Prof Avinash Kumar Agarwal, IIT Delhi's Prof SK Tyagi, LITU vice-chancellor Atul Vaidya, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research's Prof Vivek Polshettiwar, alongside experts from CSIR institutions. The session aims to draft a white paper on energy policy for submission to the govt, fostering evidence-based policymaking. Led by Neeri director Dr S Venkata Mohan, a globally recognised expert in waste remediation, biorefineries, bioelectrochemical systems, and circular bioeconomy, the workshop will focus on three pillars: Clean, viable, and inclusive energy development. As India strides toward its net-zero goals, the dialogue will explore actionable pathways in clean energy generation, emission control, green skilling, and carbon finance. Addresing a press conference on Monday, Dr Mohan emphasised Neeri's pioneering role in advancing research on microbial electrochemical systems, biorefineries, and waste valorisation, stating, "Neeri is spearheading innovative solutions to drive a cleaner, smarter, and inclusive energy ecosystem." The workshop will also address critical challenges in transitioning to sustainable energy. "Biomass, a renewable energy source, can replace fossil fuels through technologies like pyrolysis and gasification, which convert it into cleaner fuels. However, inefficient biomass-burning devices in some regions contribute to poor air quality and health issues. Improving these technologies is vital for vulnerable communities," he said. Carbon finance mechanisms, such as carbon credits, shall be highlighted as key to supporting sustainable biomass projects while meeting environmental standards during the conference. The Energy Dialogues will also deal with equitable phasing-out of fossil fuel plants, emphasising the need for careful planning to avoid economic and environmental fallout. "Retraining workers for renewable energy jobs and implementing robust emission control strategies for energy production and consumption are priorities. Technologies like green hydrogen, cleaner transportation, and carbon capture, paired with improved waste management, will help industries reduce pollution and align with net-zero targets," he said. Chief scientist Dr Nitin Labhsetwar, alongside principal scientists Dr Avneesh Anshul and Dr Ankit Gupta, briefed the media, underscoring the workshop's role in fostering inter-sectoral collaboration. By uniting experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, Neeri's initiative aims to accelerate India's transition to a sustainable, inclusive energy future, ensuring environmental sustainability and social equity.
