Need to set up common global knowledge platform: Kalam

Chennai, May 3 (PTI) Former Indian president A P J Abdul
Kalam has stressed on the need for setting up of a common
global knowledge platform for addressing challenges caused by
increased competition for energy independence.

Delivering the keynote address on 'Multi-dimensions of
Energy independence' at the inaugural function of a new
renewable energy center at Northeastern University in Boston,
he focused on rapidly shifting challenges caused by increased
competition for resources from emerging demographically rich
countries like China, India and the imperative need to control
greenhouse and carbon emissions.

Dr Kalam delved on three important aspects -- continuous
depletion of fossil based resources, concomitant degradation
of the environment and conflicting economic reality of demand
and supply, which controls costs of resources -- during his
talk on Thursday, a release from NUCRET (North Eastern
University Centre for Renewable Energy Technology) said here
Sunday.

"From an Indian perspective, the power generation
capacity of the nation has to increase to 400,000 MW from the
current generation capacity of 150,000 MW, much of which needs
to be produced from Nuclear, renewable sources such as wind
and solar and bio fuels, predominantly for transportation", he
said.

In solar energy, Kalam stressed the need to achieve
higher efficiency, using enhanced photo-voltaic cells and
lowering the cost of solar thermal plants.

Kalam said India, with its 7,000 km coastline, has very
strong wind potential, which should be addressed using better
designed wind generators and strategic citing, including
offshore locations. He emphasized the need for collaborative
research and recommended many potential partner institutions
in India.

Kalam later discussed 'Vision for the Nation -- A
distinctive Profile' at a function with students from Harvard
and MIT, got up by "Sanskriti" an Indian Student Association
of the Northeastern University.

Interacting with Indian students for over 80 minutes, he
dwelt on the current ambiance in India and the need to develop
a distinctive profile for prosperity.

Other speakers at the symposium included Prof Alan J Bard,
University of Texas, who discussed new findings in
photocatalysis, the release said.

NUCRET Director Prof Sanjeev Mukerjee reviewed and listed
out the latest trends in research in materials challenge in
energy at Northeastern University. PTI VIJ
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