GUWAHATI, July 20 � A seminar on �New and innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency� was held at the Regional Science Centre here at Khanapara recently organised by Environmental Watch And Management Institute (EWMI) and sponsored by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, a press release said.
The welcome address was given by Parismita Rajbangshi, member of EWMI. Dr Hari Prasad Sarma, Department of Environmental Science and Dr Dilip Kumar Deka of EWMI formally inaugurated the seminar by lighting of lamp. Dr Sarma also delivered a speech on renewable energy and its potentiality in the present-day world.
The inaugural speech was delivered by Dr Tilaka Das, co-ordinator of the organising committee. About 110 participants including teachers, students, and research scholars from different institutes like Gauhati University, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), University of Alaska Anchorage, USA, Uraban Engineering School of Paris, LC Bharali College, Bajali College, Rangia College, Tihu College, DK College, Regional College of Higher Education and TERI were present.
A demonstration programme was performed on various appliances using solar energy like solar cooker, solar lantern, solar torch, solar heater, and solar fan by Assam Energy Development Authority (AEDA). Thereafter, Dr S Kalita, Head, Department of Environmental Science was the chairperson of the first technical session that began with a lecture on �Plateform chemicals as biofuels- a critical assessment with biorefinery concept� by Dr Deka, Department of Energy, Tezpur University.
He discussed how biomass is utilised to produce bio-diesel, bio-ethanol and termed as first generation bio-fuels. Use of waste products to produce bio-fuels is termed as second generation biofuels. An alternative biofuel called furfurals is a plateform chemical and feedstock that has the ability to substitutes a variety of oil/coal/gas derived products. Dr Deka also elaborately discussed about bio-refinery. Dr Rupam Kataki, Department of Energy, Tezpur University delivered a valuable lecture on, �Biochar for C-sequestration and soil amelioration�. He discussed biochar as soil amendment, biochar for waste management, biochar for climate change mitigation, biochar for energy production. Two research papers from Tezpur University by Jutika Boro on, �An overview on the recent advances in the transesterification of vegetable oils biodiesel production using heterogeneous catalyst� and Rahul Singh Chutia on, �Biomass pyrolysis: a sustainable renewable energy technology� were presented in the session.
The second session started with Dr Gajen Chandra Sarma, Department of Botany, Gauhati University as chairperson. Dr BK Tiwari, Head, Department of Environmental Science, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong gave a lecture on, �Renewable energy for mitigation and adaptation of climate change in North-East India�. Ramani Kumar Sarma, Chief Engineer, Gauhati University, delivered a speech on, �Renewable energy commercialisation�. Kaustav Kakati, M-AEST student, University of Alaska Anchorage, USA delivered a speech on, �Overview of sustainable source of energy and its application in the present day world�. He described elaborately the new and innovative technical methods of solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, hydro power and geothermal energy.
Dr Arup Kumar Sarma, Dean, Student Affairs and Professor, Civil Engineering Department, IIT, Guwahati delivered a valuable speech on, �Hydropower development: need, scope and constraints�. He elaborately described that NE region has a tremendous amount of water resources but was not used properly and described the difficulties in harnessing the water resources of the North Eastern region due to non-availability of technology and expected projects. Daniel Monello, Uraban Engineering School of the city of Paris in France, took part in the interaction programme at the end of this technical session.
The seminar ended with a brainstorming and valedictory session with chairperson Dr KG Bhattacharya, Director, Academic Staff College, Gauhati University. Dr Chandan Mahanta discussed the mitigation of carbon footprints through the development of alternative projects such as solar and wind energy. Abhijit Rabha, chairman of the organising committee spoke about the hydropower energy in Assam. The overall report of the national seminar was presented by Dr Tilaka Das, coordinator, organising committee. Thereafter, certificates were distributed among the participants. The seminar ended with a vote of thanks buy Dr Chandana Sarma, active member of EWMI.
