Energy Swaraj: Essence of Sustainability
Name of the Department: IIC Council
Date: 24 Feb. 2021
Time and duration: 10:00A.M. To 2:00 P.M.
Venue: Online, AV Hall, IIS (Deemed to be University), Jaipur
Resource Person with affiliation: Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki, IIT Bombay, Mumbai.
Topic on which activity was organised: “Energy Swaraj: Essence of Sustainability”
Number of Participants: Students: faculty: 150
Objective of the Workshop/Seminar/Activity:
Overall Report of the activity:
IIC Council and Department of Physical & Computing Sciences, IIS (Deemed to be University), Jaipur organized a one day interaction/ technical talk of Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki, IIT Bombay on “Energy Swaraj: Essence of Sustainability” on 24th Feb. 2021 in A.V. Hall at University campus. The session was headed by Prof Chetan Singh Solanki from the Department of Energy Science and Engg., Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay who is widely known as the Solar Man and Solar Gandhi for his endeavours to promote solar energy in India.
Prof. T. N. Mathur, Vice-Chancellor, IIS (Deemed to be University), Jaipur has started the programme with a welcome address.
Addressing the students and faculty members at IISU, Professor Chetan Singh Solanki talked about the vitality of embracing solar energy in the future, as it is the only unending source of energy available for humans on earth. He also pointed out the adverse effects of increased consumption of fossil fuels and created awareness among participants regarding the growing issue of climate change due to increased Carbon Dioxide emissions.
Prof. Solanki talked about the major problem of human beings are facing now is nothing other than climate change in recent years and mentioned the example of Snowfall in the deserts of Dubai, wild bushfires in Australia, heat waves in Europe, large scale melting of glaciers, droughts, and floods in many parts of the world are examples of climate crisis of recent times. As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report, the world is already hotter by 1°C. It is imperative to limit global warming to ideally 1.5 °C or at max to 2°C to avoid irrevocable change in the climate. This requires rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy. Also explained about the emission of carbon dioxide is one of the main reasons behind the drastic climate change which human beings are witnessing over the past 100 years. One of the primary reasons behind the rising carbon dioxide emissions is the consumption of fossil fuels. Due to this anti-environmental act of humans, global warming is increasing, and it is negatively affecting the overall stability of the planet.
Prof. Solanki has started a public movement to spread the idea of Energy Swaraj across the world and travelled to 30 countries and over 25 Indian cities. Observing issues of energy access, energy security, energy sustainability, climate change, and thinking of possible solutions, the idea of Energy Swaraj emerged, wherein the local communities generate and consume their energy needs. Taking a cue from the Gandhian Philosophy of Gram Swaraj, Energy Swaraj is generation and consumption of Energy by Locals and for Locals, using local resources. He has undertaken the Energy Swaraj Yatra in the span of 11 years. He is now going to take 11 years long Energy Swaraj Yatra from 2020 to 2030 to create a public movement for establishing Energy Swaraj. Efforts will also be made to spread the same in other countries as well. During the Yatra, he will be moving and living in a solar-powered electric bus or solar bus. It will not be a ‘vanvas’ but a ‘SOLARVAS’. The vehicle will also house solar demonstration units and small training facilities. He demonstrated the Solar bus in the University campus. The bus also houses a small demonstration with basic units about how embracing of solar energy solutions on a large scale can alleviate climate change. It has solar panels on its roof which charge and store up to 6 units of energy. It can run on diesel or solar energy (it can run 35-45 km on solar). It doubles up as a small house consisting of a sitting area, a basic washroom with running water, a little kitchen with an electric stove, work area and a folding bed. The solar bus can accommodate 5-6 people comfortably. It has two TV sets, CCTV for security, charging cables, AC, etc. The bus is your complete off-grid sustainable home on wheels.
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