Three centres for solar energy research launched
Three centres that bring together researchers from premier academic institutes, scientists from national laboratories, experts from industries and government departments to undertake research and development and come up with customised solutions in the field of solar energy and water management were launched on Friday.
The three DST Technology Mission Centres, set-up at a cost Rs 50 crores, were launched by Harsh Vardhan, minister for science, technology and earth sciences and environment, forests and climate change.
Speaking at the launch, the minister urged scientists working across various academic institutes and national laboratories to ensure optimal coordination among themselves and with researchers abroad, as it can yield better results faster. “There is a need for optimal coordination, as scientists benefit from each other’s experiences. The department of science and technology too has several science programmes that help and support scientists who want to conduct research abroad or within the country,” he said.
One of the three DST centres is a test bed for solar thermal desalination solutions established by IIT Madras and Empereal KGDS in Narippaiyur in Ramanathapuram district to develop customised technological solution to address water challenges in the arid coastal village. The facility is being set up at a cost of Rs 3 crores to demonstrate solar powered forward osmosis to produce good quality drinking water from seawater that would benefit approximately 10,000 people in the village, who are facing severe drinking water crisis. This customised solution would involve using solar energy partially to convert seawater into potable water.
Other two centres, include the DST-IITM Solar Energy Harnessing centre, which will focus on a wide range of research and technology development activities like silicon solar cells. The centre will also work on solar thermal technologies, energy storage systems and utilising solar energy to produce fuels. A network of researchers from IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati, Anna University, ICT Mumbai, BHEL and KGDS would be jointly working in the centre. The DST-IIT-M Water Innovation Centre for Sustainable Treatment, Reuse and Management of Efficient, Affordable and Synergistic Solutions (SUTRAM) of Easy Water will undertake research and training programmes on issues related to wastewater management, water treatment, sensor development, storm water management and distribution and collection systems. Led by IIT Madras, eight partnering institutions like CSIR-CLRI and Indian Institute of Toxicological Research, Lucknow will be conducting research.
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