CHENNAI: Noting that solar radiance was 1.4 times higher in the extra terrestrial level than on earth, former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam suggested solar energy from the space as a possible source of renewable energy to meet energy needs. This space-based solar power could be transmitted to earth using nano energy packs, he explained on Monday, after inaugurating the National Laser Symposium at the Anna University.
Solar-based power has many advantages over solar plants situated in earth, as it can be collected all 24 hours in space and will not be affected by variable weather conditions. This makes solar-based power more efficient than terrestrial power systems, Dr Kalam observed. “In order to transmit this energy from space, I propose the development of nano energy packs, though these can be transmitted using laser beams and micro waves,” he said, adding that these packs could be made of hitherto unknown material that would store the energy from space and make it available on earth.
Recalling the pioneering contribution of laser scientist Mani Lal Bhaumik in the 1960s who showed that lasers could work in room temperatures, and number theory exponent Srinivasan Ramanujan, Dr Kalam said that it was time to locate, encourage, facilitate and celebrate the research minds for their extraordinary out-of-the-box thinking.
The 20th national symposium organised at the Crystal Growth Centre of Anna University is being sponsored by the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences of the Department of Atomic Energy. The Crystal Growth Centre has completed 91 research projects, 21 projects are ongoing and 153 PhD theses have been completed, said Arivuoli, co-secretary of the symposium and director of the Crystal Growth Centre.
Comments
0 comment