ASET Colloquium

Breaking the Barriers - Hydrogen and CO2 capture: Triple helix model to achieve sustainability via energy-ecology- economy

by Prof. Ramakrishna Sonde (Professor (visiting), Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Delhi)

Friday, July 2, 2021 from to (Asia/Kolkata)
at Online ( https://zoom.us/j/91427966752 )
Description
The devastating effects of climate change is upon us if we do not take urgent action now. The window for corrective action is closing very fast and, if we do not ACT NOW, it will pose a grave danger to the very survival of humanity. 

Hydrogen pathways using renewable energy and the carbon capture pathways from both large-scale point sources and ambient air (direct air capture) will emerge in the new CCUS- Carbon capture utilization & storage technology. The cheaper cost of solar electricity, new ways of water electrolysis or simultaneous reduction of water & CO2 using SOEC – solid oxide electrochemical cell, and finally fuel cell-based micro-CHP systems are the technological breakthroughs which have made hydrogen and CO2 capture eminently feasible option.

There is major scientific work to be done in this space and the talk touches briefly on most potential pathways. In the concluding part, the talk gives the medium and long terms goals and how we bring science-environment and economy on a common platform, and how we hasten the process from R&D to commercial scale using a triple helix model of collaborations at a global scale.


About the Speaker:

Dr. Sonde started his early career working as a scientist in Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC). In the formative part of his career, he was deeply involved in nuclear energy research, developing technology on Heavy Water Plants. He completed his PhD during his stint at the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in the field of isotope separation simulation sciences. He was awarded for his contribution to nuclear energy and science a Gold Medal during the Golden Jubilee award in the hands of then Prime Minister.  Subsequently, after 23 years of working in Atomic Energy, he was invited to join as Executive Director of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). During his stint there, he created a new institution “Energy Technologies” which is now rechristened as NETRA to develop technologies in the thermal coal sector. He then worked as Executive Vice President and a member of the Executive Council of Thermax.

He is currently the Chairperson of the Task Force constituted by Niti Aayog on Production of Methanol using High ash coal. He is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Engineers (FNAE), a member on the CII / FICCI Consortium for Power & Renewable Energy, a member of the DST Committee on Water, and many other committees.  He is currently working as Visiting Full-time Professor at IIT Delhi, Adjunct Professor IIT Jammu, Advisor CSIR-NEERI, and Principal Scientist at an SWM company for the Circular Economy. 
Organised by Dr. Satyanarayana Bheesette