Date:02/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/02/stories/2008010254960800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Nanotech, solar energy hold key to future needs’

Staff Reporter

Nuclear plants and bio-fuel have their limitations, says expert

VISAKHAPATNAM: “The global energy requirement at present is about 10 tera watts (TW) and by the end of the century it is estimated to rise to 60 TW. But with the diminishing oil and coal resources, what will be our source of energy in the future? The solution lies in the economic tapping of solar energy using nanotechnology,” said Director of Institute for Advanced Materials and Renewable Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, Mahendra Sunkara.

Delivering an endowment lecture on behalf of G.J.V. Jagannadha Raju Foundation at the Academic Staff College, Andhra University, which was organised by the Vizag Chapter of Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences (APKS) on Monday, he said, “There are alternatives like nuclear plants and bio-fuel, but both have its limitations. The nuclear fuel is limited and the bio-fuel needs huge land occupation. Right now, we are using only 0.01 per cent of the solar energy when the sun actually gives over one lakh TW per year. The solar energy is clean and there is no emission of pollutants like other fuels.”

Prof. Mahendra and his team are in the advanced stage of research to produce solar cells that would be efficient and effective.

On the new generation solar cells he said, “Right now the commonly used silicon cells are not cost effective. The cost of producing one watt is about $ 3.5. We are looking at a cost that should not exceed seven cents. And this is where our research comes into focus.”