‘Nanotechnology offers solution to energy issues'

Thrissur: Nanotechnology can provide a clean and cost-effective solution to the future energy problems, a seminar has observed.

Presenting papers on ‘Nanotechnology—solutions to the ailing power sector,’ here recently, students from various engineering colleges in the district noted that the strategic applications of nanotechnology would change the way energy was hitherto being generated, stored, transmitted, and managed.

Nanotechnology could also be used to upgrade the existing systems of power generation and distribution, they observed.

I.M. Swathi and Vrinda V. Gopal of Nehru College of Engineering, Pambady, said that nanotechnology was going to revolutionise the solar energy sector. Made up of crystalline silicon, the present-day solar panels are expensive. Greeshma Chandran of Jyothi Engineering College pointed out that with nanotechnology, tiny solar cells could be embedded in very thin light-retaining flexible plastics, bypassing the cost of silicon.

As the demand for electricity increases, upgrading of the existing transmission and distribution lines becomes a necessity.

Nanotechnology could be used to reduce transmission and distribution loss considerably, said T. Paulose and Akhil K. Vijayakumar of Vidya Academy of Science and Technology.

Helma Mani of Jyothi Engineering College elaborated on how nanotechnology could be used to improve the efficiency of the existing power plants without installing large generators.

Students from 10 engineering colleges presented papers at the seminar organised by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Engineers’ Association.

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http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/01/stories/2011030155370700.htm