Report of lecture of 2008 Nobel Prize Winner Dr. John Byrne by VPM's BN Bandodkar Science College, Thane
Recently, a lecture of 2008 Nobel Prize Winner Dr. John Byrne, Centre for Energy and Environment Policy, Delaware, USA on the subject ' Energy Strategy for Urban Sustainability' organized by 15 NGOs and VPM's BN Bandodkar College of science in Bajirao Peshwe Sabhagruha, Thane.
(His contact person in India is Sanjay sanjaymg@udel.edu who is Prof. at VJTI and Contact persons in Thane are Omkar Shirke 8097520379 and Vipul Patil 7738430795, 3rd floor, Sarika Apt., Bhakti Mandir Marg, Panchpakhadi, Thane (W))
John said that thought of Energy Strategy for Urban Sustainability came to the fore in view of a) BP Horizon Well Blow out in the gulf of Mexico on 20th April 2010 b) Fukushima Nuclear Power Station Accident on March 11, 2011 c) 8 to 9% of GDP being spend on energy alone d) Climate Change: CO2 emissions from burning of fossil fuels, carbon compounds etc.
However, US did not sign Kyoto protocol and wanted only China and India to reduce emissions. He showed a beam of light pointing towards sky in shape of pyramid which US has displayed in Las Vegas to beat natural light as show of its strength. According to him, this is shear waste of energy which otherwise could provide light to 2500 household in US for 1 year.
Sustainable limit of CO2 emissions for individuals is 3.3 tons/ year/ person. In USA, it has crossed 20 tons/year/person. We need to reduce CO2 emissions to 60% by end of 2050 if we have save ourselves from effects of greenhouse gases, global warming and unprecedented calamities. US can save 35% of eletctricity by improving productivity. He gave example of Seoul city which meets 35% of its energy requirements using solar energy.
Current cost of solar energy in US is 14 Cents/ KWh making geothermal energy and solar energy cost almost the same. It is true that all forms of energy are subsidized. He said we will create more jobs by going for renewable energy. He described Delaware model of sustainable energy through public-public partnership.
He said that efficiency of current solar panels to convert input energy to output is 15 to 20%. His Delaware lab has come out with the materials that can increase this efficiency to 40%.
It was a good lecture,well presented on the topic extremely important for sustainability of our world.
Dr. P. M. Kelkar
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