Pathways for a Sustainable Energy Future

(The videos will be trimmed as soon as we have time, after the conference)

Pathways for a Sustainable Energy Future – Vikram Saraph

Humanity is facing an unprecedented challenge today. A challenge of preserving the ecological systems that it depends on for its very own existence. It is not just about climate change, resource depletion or growing waste; it is also about a paradigm shift, a behavioural shift and a collective effort on a global scale. There is no dearth of scientific studies, theoretical models and how-to guides that could likely help us address this challenge. However, it is also evident that most countries, regions and communities across the world are still struggling to implement impactful programs that support their intentions to tackle the challenge.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals, which have been adopted by most countries are no where near to being achieved by the year 2030 unless drastic measures are taken now. The increase in poverty and economic hardships is no longer confined to the developing nations, it is now a global phenomenon. Widespread ecological destruction and man-made conflicts are creating waves of permanently displaced and refugee communities. Hence, it is now, more than ever before, a must for everyone to join our collective journey to a sustainable and resilient future.

This session briefly introduces the founding elements of a sustainable future, such as – education, clean energy, perpetuity of capital, planning, life-centric policies and a strong ideology; and deep dives into the most critical element – Energy.

Energy is a key ingredient to drive any initiative. It drives industrial activity, fuels our economy and hence supports socio-economic development. It powers our homes, schools, hospitals, transport systems and our scientific endeavours. However, energy is also the primary cause of this global crisis and the demand is increasing. Our current systems of energy generation and consumption create significant levels of pollution and contamination and causes widespread ecological damage. The entire energy cycle is inefficient, wasteful and unsustainable. By addressing these inefficiencies, by converting waste into valuable resources, and by harnessing clean and renewable energy, we can not only address the climate change crisis, but also fuel our economic development more sustainably. This session discusses just how we can do this and explores emerging models of energy resilience that could be implemented to meet our future demands responsibly. Perpetually.

Avishek Ranjan
Global warming, air pollution and lack of sustainable energy are some of the major problems that plague humanity. Unfortunately, the economic progress with the present methods, or the status quo, is positively correlated with environmental degradation and the reverse is also true (amply clear from the worldwide lockdowns earlier this year). Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind provide sustainable solutions but integrating them with existing infrastructure is a considerable challenge. Energy storage in batteries is a promising option to enable greater penetration of renewables but the overall cost of these batteries is prohibitively large and likely to remain so without significant technological advances. There is a need for collaborative effort oriented more towards service and value rather than profits – and this is indeed possible, evident from the rapid progress in Covid-19 vaccine development that was fuelled by the spirits of togetherness, openness and kindness. The goal is clear: provide 100% renewable energy for electricity, transport, building heating/cooling, and in industry at all locations around the world. In this session, we will discuss the various pathways to achieve this goal, about what is being done and what can be done.

Krisada Kampanatsanyakorn
The Cellenium research team based in Bangkok consisting of  Khun Krisada Kampanatsanyakorn, Dr Placido Spaziente, Prof. Suradit, Piriyathep Kanchanadul, Kanyarat Holasut and others have created a Vanadium Fuel Cell (VFC) that can store energy and thus remove the bottleneck in making renewable energy as the main base load. If poverty is to be permanently driven from the face of the earth, we need to adopt models of economic development which are based on energy-efficient habitats, widespread use of energy storage systems like VFC,a system of recycling all wastes, smart technologies for water purification,organic fertilizer production and other green energy technologies. We also need the support of a spiritual lifestyle that respects nature, values compassion, sharing and service.