Solar energy can be used to combat climate change: Experts

NOIDA - Solar energy can be used to combat climate change, scientists from India and Australia said during an Indo-Australian Solar Energy Workshop held here on Tuesday.

This view was expressed at the Amity Institute of Renewable and Alternative Energy-sponsored two-day workshop, which is being attended by speakers and delegates from IIT’s located in Chennai, Kanpur, Guwahati and Mumbai.

Dr. Lachan Strahan, Deputy High Commissioner, Australia inaugurated the workshop.

Dr. C.K. Prahlada, Chief Controller, DRDO; A K Sood - Advisor, International Program , DST, Ministry of Science and Technology;

Dr. Igor Skryabin, Australian National University; Dr. Ashok K Chauhan- Founder President, Amity Universe and Ajay Chauhan- Trustee, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation were among the others present at the inauguration.

Dr. Chauhan promised that the projects developed out of the discussions and deliberations during the workshop would be commercially utilized. He also announced the launch of the “Amity Indo-Australian Commerce Science and Technology Foundation”, which will work in the areas of commerce, science and technology.

Thanking Amity University for agreeing to host the workshop, Dr.Strahan said: “The kind of work you scientists have been doing goes very much to the heart of this fundamental challenge before us. I agree that IT has opened up wonderful new ways of communication but there is no substitute for coming together and meeting each other face to face.”

“The challenges confronted by all the nations are same. It’s been two months that Copenhagen Conference took place where the world community grappled with the challenge of climate change. We all acknowledge that it was a difficult conference and agreement to so many issues was not reached,” he added.

“We must find ways of developing cleaner sources of energy. Solar energy must be a part of that solution; I know that there are fairly difficult challenges in converting solar energy’s enormous potential into an energy source which can make contribution to our societies. What we need to do is to find ways to make solar energy more efficient and less costly,” Dr. Strahan said.

He said that both India and Australia have recognized the fundamental importance of solar energy.

“India has its own solar energy mission; it has sets its ambitious targets for solar power generation. Australian Government has set its own renewable energy targets i.e. 20 percent by 2020. This conference will strengthen the expanding relationship between India and Australia,” he said.

Dr. Prahlada said: “such workshops need to have global perspective in the background but at the same time there should be local consideration and local concern. Solar energy is the mother of energy .Solar power should be cost effective and affordable for common man.”

“The need of the hour is low cost, low weight solar batteries made of plastic or polymer. DRDO is encouraging institutes and students to carry on research in this area and in next ten years lot of opportunities exist for this in the solar energy sector,” he added.

Dr.Igor Skryabin, a scientist and Australian coordinator of the workshop, said: “The workshop endeavors to identify the collaborations in the area of research between the two countries. Australia has a long history of solar research and other related technologies. What we want to do is come up here and talk, discuss and make you aware of the technologies that we have and understand the technologies that you are working on as well.”

Numerous speakers from the industry and academics would present their views during the two day workshop that concludes on Wednesday. (ANI)