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What is the energy mix of future?

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CIOL Bureau
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BANGALORE, INDIA: What will be the global energy mix of the future?

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According to the views expressed by the panelists at a discussion of the topic held at EmTech India 2011 here, the energy mix is unlikely to change radically for the fifty years.

In a panel discussion chaired by Alok Nanda, GE India Engineering Leader for Gas Turbine and Power Plant Engineering, the panelists looked for 'transformative technologies' as also some of the emerging trends.

Enough fossil fuel for 100 years

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One reason is that there is plenty of conventional fossil fuel resources present, in the global context — enough to provide energy for the world at even double the present rate of consumption for the next 100 years.

So, there really is no urgency to change the energy mix. Yes, particular countries may face a fossil fuel crunch and they may want to look at alternatives.

Secondly, the time gap between the development of a new energy resource and its global dissemination usually takes several decades. The alternatives being now considered, such as wind, biomass and solar — all have severe limitations as of now. They are more suited for distributed consumption in small lots. Hydro power is more or less fully exploited with new resources very expensive and difficult to bring on stream.

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The panelists from NIAS, Bangalore; Center for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy, Bangalore; Thermax India and DuPont Knowledge Center felt that perhaps the one compelling reason for the present energy mix to be changed soon is the generation of greenhouse gases from combusting fossil fuel which can lead to disastrous climate change.

The answer to this can be either exploring ways to absorb the carbon dioxide coming out of the power stations or investing more in nuclear energy. In the latter case, perhaps the future lies in fusion instead of the present fission technologies.

A technology to detect heart murmurs

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Arvind Thiagarajan, founder chairman and chief inventor, HD Medical Group, demonstrated FonoDoc, a technology to detect heart murmurs. Arvind, a specialist in signal processing and algorithm development showcased the hand-held device.

GE’s largest integrated multidisciplinary Research and Development Center and Yahoo! India R&D as the innovation partners, India TR35 initiative is supported by global provider of IT Services, Wipro.

The innovation live sessions were supported India’s largest technology provider, HP India, Technology bellwether Infosys, telecom technology provider Alcatel-Lucent, and Department of Science and Technology too lent their support.

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