Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 8: The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal, in collaboration with Government Engineering College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan from February 7 to 9 organized an international conference on 'Recent Advances on Renewable Energy' (RARE-2020).
The theme of the conference was the 'Growth of the modern economy and living standards of a country strongly depend on the use of accessible energy resources in an environmental-friendly manner'. The global primary energy demand is continuing to increase at an average of 1.5% per year to 2035 (BP, 2014). The biggest challenge before us today is to meet the burgeoning energy needs of the growing population through affordable environmentally friendly sustainable energy sources and technologies. Renewables are expected to continue to be the fastest-growing class of energy, projected to rise at an average annual rate of 3.0 percent till 2035. Recognizing this fact of global energy in crossroads, this conference addresses the path forward in overcoming the various research and development challenges for the implementation of renewable energy technologies.
The conference was inaugurated by Prof K Balaveera Reddy chairperson BOG NITK, Prof R P Sharma Centre for Energy Studies, IIT Delhi as the chief guest, Prof Kartar Singh, principal, GEC, Jhalawar and Prof K Umamaheshwar Rao, director, NITK presided over the function. Prof Paresh Chandra Deka, Dr Veershetty Gumptapure and Dr Debashisha Jena, organizing chair, department of Applied Mechanics & Hydraulics were also present on the dais. At the inaugural event, the conference proceedings were also released by eminent personalities.
Addressing the gathering, Prof K Balaveera Reddy said, "It is a subject of concern to all of us. The best form of energy is renewable energy. Natural elements such as wind, sea and sun are the sources of renewable energy because they are present in abundance. These are sustainable sources of energy as they can be replenished without thinking about their cost or their presence in nature.
Prof K Umamaheshwara Rao in his presidential remarks refreshed the thoughts of the audience regarding the mining coal and the resources of renewable energy. If we look at the statistics of consumption of energy of our country, we are not producing the energy, but we are producing more population." Further, he highlighted the scarcity for generation of power and that this is the challenge before the youngsters here. "The country is looking at the non-renewable energy and the time has come to look into an alternative source of energy that is a renewable one. There are many challenges as we get into the new forms of energy and remind the youth that you will be the answer for many things in the future."
Dr Veershetty Gumptapure, event coordinator, briefed about the workshop. Dr Debashisha Jena proposed the vote of thanks.