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Following is the text of the
President, Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam’s address at the 94th Indian
Science Congress, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu:
Energy Independence and Planet Earth
"The Earth
is the cradle of mankind,
but one cannot eternally live in a cradle!"
“Dear Friends, I am very happy that
the 94th Indian Science Congress has focused on the theme “Planet Earth”. My
greetings to all the scientists who have come here from various parts of the
country and abroad. It will be a beautiful opportunity for sharing of thoughts
among experienced scientists and young scientists, which will enable us to
evolve a roadmap for better understanding, preserving and nurturing of the
Planet Earth for the future.
While I was preparing for this lecture, a thought
occurred to me, “since I was to address the young and experienced scientists, I
should seek the views of both youth and experienced.” I posted a question in my
website www.presidentofindia.nic.in on 31 Dec 2006. The question was: “Science
in India – what it means to you?” Within 3 days time, I received more than 120
responses, particularly from the youth and also emails from experienced
scientists. We have brought out a booklet containing all the responses
It is being made available to the
Science Congress. When I analyzed the responses, I realized how the past meets
the present and creates the future. The responses reflect the dreams of the
youth on science and also the change of mind among the experienced scientists.
Science for youth means an inspiration and also a way of life and their
restless minds are urging for fast action in science education, science
research and science results. The experienced unanimously have confirmed that
Science in India has to graduate for dealing with and finding solution to the
problems of our country, particularly the rural areas. When we look at both
together, the views of young and experienced, it definitely gives an inspiring
message to the nation that India has to give the highest priority for science
in providing resources, evolving good science teachers and evolving world class
research institutions in the country. The scientific magnanimity (Refer my
website) radiating from experienced scientists throughout the country will
inspire the youth to take up science as a life time mission.
Energy Independence born out of two
purposes
Based on the theme ‘Planet Earth’,
for this Science Congress, I am discussing two aspects in my presentation. How
do we make our earth livable and free from CO2 bombardment and thereby reduce
the damage to the ozone layer? Also how do we find an economic solution to
energy production, which has several scientific challenges encompassing many
scientific fields? Hence the subject I have selected is Energy Independence.
The world energy forum has focused
on what is going to be the status of fossil fuel based material like oil, gas
and coal in the next fifty to hundred years. It is estimated by international
forecasting that the available resource of fossil material will get exhausted
within the next fifty to hundred years since these resources are non-renewable.
And also friends, I would also like to share with you about the recent article
in the “New Scientist” which mentions about dumping of 30 billion tonnes of
carbon-di-oxide into the atmosphere by all the nations every year. This dumping
primarily arises due to the use of fossil fuels which directly affects the
ozone layer which is existing between 25 kms to 30 kms above the earth’s
surface. As you all know, Ozone layer regulates the sun radiation and cosmic
radiation on earth. Earth is experiencing both stratospheric cooling (due to
ozone hole) and tropospheric warming (due to increased green house gases). The
question is, how do we protect our earth by protecting the atmosphere.
I would like to focus on how India
can contribute in minimizing CO2 contamination in the atmosphere to save the
Planet Earth. Let me now discuss the energy requirement and its structures in
the coming two and a half decades which is applicable for one billion plus
people of India and it will be relevant to the other five billion people of
planet Earth.
Structure of Energy Sources for India
Based on the progress visualized for the nation during
the next two decades, the power generating capacity has to increase to 400,000
MW by 2030 from the existing hundred and thirty thousand Megawatts in India.
This takes into consideration of energy economies planned and the design and
production of energy efficient equipments and systems. Energy independence has
got to be achieved through three different sources namely Hydel capacity,
nuclear power and non-conventional energy sources primarily through solar and
wind energy, apart from the use of thermal power through clean coal technology.
In this context, I would like to
mention about India’s partnership in the US FutureGen project which is an
initiative to create the first zero emission fossil fuel plant. When
operational, the prototype will be the cleanest fossil fuel fired power plant
in the world. Indian companies are expected to participate in private sector
segment of the projects. It will draw upon the best scientific talent to pursue
an innovative project focused on the design, construction and operation of a
technically cutting edge power plant. Early completion of this project will
enable application of this technology to the future power projects based on
coal and minimize the carbondioxide dumping in atmosphere since we have to
establish new coal based power plants with the capacity of over 56,000 MW
before 2030 in India. Also, this technology will be useful in modernizing the
existing coal based power plants generating power to the extent of 80,000 MW.
In 2030, the Hydel capacity is
expected to contribute 80,000 MW. Large scale solar energy farms of hundreds of
megawatts capacity in certain number could contribute around 55,000 MW and wind
energy can contribute 64,000 MW. The nuclear power plants should have a target
of 50,000 MW of power. The balance 15,000 MW will be generated through use of
solid bio mass and municipal waste. Now, let me discuss the scientific research
and development challenges for realizing the mission of energy independence.
First, I would like to talk about solar energy.
CNT based solar cells for higher efficiency
One of the important need for
achieving energy independence by 2030 is to increase the power generated
through renewable energy sources from the existing 5% to 25%. Particularly, the
energy produced through solar energy has to increase substantially. The low
efficiency of conventional photo voltaic cells has restricted the use of solar
cells for large application for power generation. Research has shown that the
Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) based PV cell with multi junction device could give
maximum efficiency of only 30%. Hence it is essential to launch a research
mission on Carbon Nano Tube (CNT) based PV cell which has got higher level of
promise in efficiency.
The CNTs provide better electron ballistic transport property
along its axis with high current density capacity on the surface of the solar
cell without much loss. Higher electrical conductivity and mechanical strength
of CNT could improve the quantum efficiency to the order of 35%. But, this is
not sufficient. Recent research has shown that the alignment of the CNT with
the polymer composites substrate is the key issue and this aligned CNT based PV
cells would give very high efficiency in photovoltaic conversion. The polymer
composites increase contact area for better charge transfer and energy
conversion. In this process, the researchers could achieve the efficiency of
about 50% at the laboratory scale. Our scientists have to take up this
challenge and come up with the development of a CNT based PV cell with an
efficiency of at least 50% within the next three years so that it can go into
the commercial production within five years. In addition, they can also take up
the development of organic solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells and third
generation solar cells. There are lots of opportunities for research in
fundamental science in this area and I would like to see these opportunities
used by a wider spectrum of our Universities and Research Laboratories in a
coherent, consorted way with a mission mode programme. Now, I would discuss
about bio-fuel research.
Increasing the Bio-fuel oil content
The country is presently importing
around 100 million tonnes of crude oil with a foreign exchange outflow of Rs.
1,50,000 Cr. per annum (nearly US $ 34 billion). By 2030 with the present
growth rate we may have to import 300 million tonnes. To reduce the import
content, apart from locating the embedded oil resources in the country, we have
to work on producing Ethanol and bio-diesel in a cost effective manner which can
be blended to the extent of 30% to 40% with petrol and diesel. Simultaneously,
we have to work on development of other energy sources like hydrogen which is
totally pollution free.
Our study indicates that we have to
realize production of 60 million tonnes of bio-diesel and 60 million tonnes of
Ethanol per annum by 2030. Particularly for bio-diesel we have to get this
production from 20 million hectares which is one third of the quantum of
present waste land available in the country, where Jatropha can be planted. We
have to achieve it through research for improving the productivity of Jatropha
plant seeds, mastering the extraction and esterification technology and finding
remunerative bi- products, which is a challenge for life science scientists.
Our aim should be to evolve a drought resistant Jatropha seed which will
provide minimum 3 kgs of seed per plant annually commencing from third year of
plantation and minimum 40% oil content. Similar effort is required in ethanol
plantation and production also. I consider, this is definitely an important
challenge for the agriculture scientists, gene experts, plant breeders,
biotechnologists and others participants of this science congress. Our
agriculture experts must also collaborate with our combustion experts and
produce the most fuel efficient engines that can run with 100% bio-diesel or
ethanol produced from Jatropha plantation or sugarcane. Let us discuss nuclear
fuel research.
Efficient thorium based nuclear fuel
As you are aware, India has
abundant quantity of thorium. But thorium is a non-fissile material. It has to
be converted into a fissile material using the Fast Breeder Reactor. We have to
study the thorium based programme in relation to the on going programmes of the
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Going critical of fast breeder reactor which
is in an advanced stage of construction, development of Advanced Heavy Water
Reactor (AHWR) and Accelerator Driven System (ADS) technologies have to be
pursued in an integrated way. There are many scientific and technological
challenges.
Fast breeder Reactors:Fast breeder reactors can
make a significant contribution to India’s energy requirements, but the rate of
increase in fast reactor installed capacity has to follow a certain growth path
as plutonium-239, the fuel for the fast reactors gets generated in nuclear
reactors. Thus the rate of new fast reactor capacity addition has to be
determined by the rate at which plutonium can be bred. The breeding depends on
the fast reactor design and the chemical form of plutonium fuel. Metallic fuel
gives much higher breeding ratio whereas plutonium in oxide form gives a lower
breeding ratio. So our basic research has to be on the development of metallic
fuel on priority. It is only after we have established enough fast reactor
capacity, we can shift to thorium based systems and continue to get power from
thorium reactors.
Thorium Technologies: Country has already set up a
facility for reprocessing thorium and has designed an Advanced Heavy Water
Reactor (AHWR), which aims to derive two-third of its power from thorium and
one third from plutonium generated from Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR).
Implementation of the AHWR project and development of associated fuel cycle
facilities will provide industrial scale experience in the handling of thorium.
An important basic research area would be to develop reactor systems based on
thorium wherein power derived from thorium can be increased and external input
of fissile material can be minimized. It will definitely lead to early utilization
of thorium in power production.
Accelerator Driven Systems: The other
possibility for thorium utilization is through Accelerator Driven Systems
(ADS). ADS have two main components: an accelerator and a reactor. A reactor
system using only thorium as fuel cannot become critical as thorium is not a
fissile material. To make it critical, an external supply of neutrons is
needed. A ‘spallation’ source can provide an external source of neutrons to
achieve criticality in an otherwise sub-critical system. Protons, when
accelerated to high energy in an accelerator and made to collide with a target
of high atomic number element (such as lead, tungsten, uranium etc.), cause
detachment of a large number of neutrons from these nuclides in a process
called spallation. The development of an appropriate proton accelerator is the
first step towards the development of ADS. The research results will lead to
building an accelerator and subsequently the use of accelerator for detachment
of neutrons from heavy elements. Accelerator technology has many other
applications. For example, accelerators are useful in health care for treatment
of cancer and in basic research as tools to study structure of atom.
Accelerators are also useful in the industry for chemical processing, where
irradiation by accelerators can be used to improve the mechanical and
electrical properties of cable insulation. Our nuclear scientists and
technologists have to meet the challenges. The next area we will consider is
about efficient hydrogen fuel.
Efficient Hydrogen Fuel
During my visit to Iceland, I had a
unique experience, which I would like to share with you. Friends, the President
of Iceland and myself with our teams were traveling in a hydrogen fuelled bus.
The bus also took us to a Hydrogen Fuel station and we filled up Hydrogen gas
in the fuel tank and we continued our journey and discussions. I am aware that,
hydrogen operated motorcycles, three wheelers and small generators have been
developed in the country. In addition, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
(PEMFC) and Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) technologies and fuel cell –
battery hybrid van have been developed. Hydrogen production from distillery
waste and other renewable methods have also been developed. Hydrogen storage in
metal hydrides has also been demonstrated. We have also to work on liquid
hydrogen production plants. At present, research is in progress to further
improve the performance and technology of these vehicles and generators.
Particularly the Fuel cell powered automobiles will become a reality in the
world. In India, an electric car company in collaboration with DRDO has
developed a hybrid vehicle which can be run with a fuel cell and the cost per
kilometer will be just 40 paise in addition to the pollution free operation of
the Car. Also, we should know that ISRO launch vehicles use liquid oxygen and
hydrogen fuel. Production of liquid hydrogen is being done in Mahendragiri
Space Centre. I would urge the research community to concentrate on the areas
such as high pressure storage of hydrogen, liquid storage, storage in
nano-structure, development of safety codes and standards and development of
dedicated engine for hydrogen fuel. Finally, I would like to mention about wind
energy research.
Wind Energy Research
It is essential that in an area of
wind energy research, we need to earmark sufficient efforts and resources for
research for potential windy areas, optimal plant design, cost effectiveness
and progressive improvements. For realizing, generating capacity of 64,000 MW
of electrical power from wind energy, we have to take the following actions:
A.
The present potential of wind energy in India has been
worked out to be 45,000 MW. Studies must be launched to explore other potential
sources such as off-shore wind farms, especially, since India has over 7000 km
long coastlines. It may also be necessary to apply advanced techniques in wind
velocity measurement and relating it to available electrical out put.
B. Work towards standardization of the wind turbine power plants to realise the
cost reduction due to economies in the scale. Also research and development is
required for reducing the investment per MW through improved designs and
application of newer technologies.
C. I understand that the generation cost at presently is between Rs.2.5 to
Rs.3.5 per unit depending upon the site. Research is required to bring down
this cost to Rs.1.00 to Rs.2.00 per unit based on improved designs and
maintenance free systems.
D. Feasibility studies may be conducted by wind energy researchers to determine
economic sizes of wind energy plants which can be used for lifting water from
30 meter level and serve the needs of farmer having small holdings in a region
with an average wind speed of 8 to 10 km per hour.
Now, I would like to talk about the research required for
reducing the impact of coal based power plants on atmosphere.
Minimizing the impact of coal based plants
on environment
To minimize the impact of coal
based plants on environment in the country we have to use super critical technologies
with higher steam parameters for improved plant efficiency and circulating
fluidized bed combustion for use of inferior coal. The newer technology option
such as integrated coal gasification combined cycle and solar integrated
combined cycle should be completed fast and implemented in our power plant.
There is a need to implement these technologies at the earliest so that we can
get better coal, higher efficiency of the plant, reduced transportation load
and minimum impact on the environment. Now, I would like to present few
thoughts on convergence of technology and world knowledge platform which will
provide a cost effective and pollution free solution for realizing energy
independence for partner countries using their core competence.
Convergence of Technologies
The information technology and
communication technology have already converged leading to Information and
Communication Technology (ICT). Information Technology combined with
bio-technology has led to bio-informatics. Now, Nano-technology is knocking at
our doors. It is the field of the future that will replace microelectronics and
many fields with tremendous application potential in the areas of medicine,
electronics and material science. When Nano technology and ICT meet, integrated
silicon electronics, photonics are born and it can be said that material
convergence will happen. With material convergence and biotechnology linked, a
new science called Intelligent Bioscience will be born which would lead to a
disease free, happy and more intelligent human habitat with longevity and high
human capabilities. Convergence of bio-nano-info technologies can lead to the
development of nano robots.
World Knowledge Platform
During my visit to Singapore,
Philippines and Republic of Korea, I have put forward the concept of “World
Knowledge Platform”, which will integrate the core competencies of the partner
countries to develop knowledge products. This platform will enable joint
design, development, cost effective production and marketing of the knowledge
products in various domains based on the core competence of partner nations to
international market
In India, today we have an example
of successful joint venture which harnessed the core competencies of two
nations India and Russia, who have different cultures, languages and design
standards. The product, which has come out, is of world class, much ahead of
other countries due to the joint working of best of minds from both countries.
This is an example of how the core competencies of nations can be combined and
the best of knowledge products can emanate well ahead of time.
Missions of World Knowledge Platform: The
convergence of Bio, Nano and ICT is expected to touch every area of concern to
the humanity particularly in the area of energy. The “World Knowledge Platform”
will take up the missions, in some of the areas given below, which are of
utmost urgency to all of us to make our world a safe, sustainable, peaceful and
prosperous place to live:
Topics & Application Areas
The topics
and application areas for the World Knowledge Platform may be : Energy,
Agriculture and Food Processing, Water, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Materials
and ICT. Particularly in Energy, the following missions may be undertaken :
1. Fuel Cell Technologies
2. Photovoltaic Technologies
3. Biovoltaics Technologies
4. Fuel Sources &
Exploration
5. Energy Conversion
6. Fuel Refinement
The task must be specially focused
leading to the design, development leading to production for meeting the energy
demands of partner countries and the world market. The core competence of
different countries must be utilized for research, development and rapid
commercialization of the products. The world knowledge platform will also
evolve a virtual design centre with the participation of collaborating
countries. World knowledge Platform will be the launch pad for many innovations
that are waiting to be unearthed only by the combined power of partnering
nations in the energy sector.
I am sure members of 94th Indian
Science Congress can take the initiative of creating the world knowledge
platform by integrating the academic institutions, R&D institutions and the
business enterprises where they are working today spread in different parts of
the world.
The task must be specially focused
leading to the design, development leading to production for meeting the energy
demands of partner countries and the world market. The core competence of
different countries must be utilized for research, development and rapid
commercialization of the products. The world knowledge platform will also
evolve a virtual design centre with the participation of collaborating
countries. World knowledge Platform will be the launch pad for many innovations
that are waiting to be unearthed only by the combined power of partnering nations
in the energy sector.
I am sure members of 94th Indian
Science Congress can take the initiative of creating the world knowledge
platform by integrating the academic institutions, R&D institutions and the
business enterprises where they are working today spread in different parts of
the world.
Action plan for long term scientific
research
Every year, when I come to Science
Congress, there has been an assurance that the S&T budget will be
increased. This year the Hon’ble Prime Minister has announced that the
allocation on Science & Technology will be progressively increased from
less than 1% of GDP to 2% of GDP in next five years’ period. I urge that there
is a need for focused action plan to realize this. For enabling time bound
action I would suggest constitution of a joint team consisting of members from
all scientific departments of Govt of India and other concerned departments and
agencies. This team should work out the growth plan for research, science
education programme, training programmes and laboratory establish programme in
a integrated way for the five year period, keeping a 20 years science vision
perspective. The yearly increase could be 2007-2008 1.2%, 2008-09 1.4% and
2009-10 1.6%, 2010-2011 1.8% and 2011-2012 2%. I would recommend in the total
allocation 0.5% of GDP could be allocated for basic research. A document should
come out spelling out integrated national S&T programme, including basic
research, applied research and Technology demonstration. The document should
also indicate the participating departments, research institutions, academic
institutions and universities along with specific milestones to be achieved in
a definite time frame.
Conclusion
Atmosphere is the
life-supporting heritage for living systems of planet Earth. Preserving and
nurturing atmosphere is the responsibility of all the citizens of the world.
Scientists have to play a major role in providing a path to see that the right
technology is used for improving the quality of life of the world citizens
today so that it does not have an adverse long term impact. Before concluding,
I would like to share with you the thought expressed by one of my friends who
is a Professor in Carnegie Mellon University on the topic “science in India”.
He says our young and experienced scientists are very eager to find solutions
to the scientific problems posing the western university. When this solution is
found, it will generally be relevant to western society on both side of
Atlantic. It is essential for India to start working on problems, which are
being faced by the billion people in the country, 70% of whom are living in
rural areas. If we find useful scientific results in the Indian context it will
be useful to the other four billion people in the world who are placed in
similar situation. I would suggest to the members of scientific community
assembled here to search for typical Indian problems needing urgent solution
which can improve the quality of life of people in the country and find
scientific solutions to the problems faced by humanity in a time bound manner.
You will be ever remembered for this unique contribution to the nation and
thereby to the planet Earth.
My best wishes to all the participants of 94th Indian Science Congress success
in your mission of promoting science for societal transformation.
May God bless you.”
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DS/LV
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President’s address at the 94th Indian Science Congress, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
