Sustainable Nitte
AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
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Sustainable Development Goal 7 aims in ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy for all. About 16% of the world's population has no access to modern electricity. Most of the cooking is still done by over 2.3 billion people using polluting fuels such as wood, charcoal and generates greenhouse gases that affect the climate. The current share of India in global primary energy consumption is 6.1%. Energy disparity is greater in rural areas, and that hinders the progress. The advancement in technology and changes in government policies aim to reduce the cost of renewable energy. Ensuring access to clean, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy will help improve health, reduce poverty, mitigate climate change's effect, and benefit the environment.
PROACTIVE STEPS TAKEN BY NU
Clean energy usage:
University has the strong vision to reduce the usage of conventional energy and switch to clean energy usage in phased manner. Currently solar panels of capacity 520 KW are installed by the university on roof top on strategic places to harness maximum solar energy. University has signed an open access agreement Hydro, wind, and solar energy with M/s. Solarsys Non-conventional Energy Pvt Ltd, M/s. AMR Power Pvt Ltd, M/s. ReNew Solar Energy Pvt. Ltd. to use clean energy. During the year 2023, 52% of the total energy requirement were met by clean energy in the university and reached the benchmark of 2/3rd energy consumption from clean energy.
Biogas production plant:
Wet waste generated in the campus are channelized to produce biogas. A portable Biogas unit (0.5-1 cubic meter capacity) with 2-3 kg waste handling per day is also installed in the university.
Biodiesel production plant:
Biodiesel centre is equipped with a pilot scale chemical reactor to produce 50 litres of biodiesel from oil source per batch in about 20-24 working hours through a chemical process in the presence of a catalyst. Seed decorticators are available to remove outer cover and recover seed kernels (30-40 kg/hr).
The oil from the non-edible seeds is extracted through a mechanical expeller (20-30 kg/hr seed crushing capacity) later the oil is filtered using Plate and Frame filter assembly and then used in the production of biodiesel.
Used cooking oil is used for biodiesel production. Biodiesel is separated and purified for engine usage. The centre also houses a laboratory for biodiesel testing where major 5 fuel parameters (acid value, viscosity, density, flash point and copper strip corrosion) are tested. A portable Biogas unit (0.5-1 cubic meter capacity) with 2-3 kg waste handling per day is also installed in the Bioenergy centre.
Establishment of Energy Devices Laboratory:
The Energy Devices Research Laboratory set up by the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, NMAMIT, was inaugurated on 27th October 2023 by Dr. Niranjan N Chiplunkar, Principal in the presence of Dr. Nayak GP, Scientist, NCL Pune. The Laboratory is equipped with a B i o l o g i c a l S P 5 0 e electrochemical workstation, which can be used to study the behaviour of various energy storage device applications such as fuel cells and solar cells.
SAVING ENERGY
Led Bulb:
Incandescent light fixtures are replaced with energy-efficient LED bulb. Hostel building is equipped with solar water heaters. DG sets on all campuses, a synchronisation panel/load management has been installed to guarantee the best possible use of electricity generation. Periodic maintenance of electrical equipment, panels are covered under annual maintenance contract.
Energy Audit:
Periodically energy audits are conducted by the university to assess the usage of energy brought about by its rapid expansion. The goal of the energy audit is to provide an information base for the overall.
Electric Vehicle:
Electric vehicles are deployed in the university for staff to commute within and outside the campus. Battery-operated buggy to carry students from hostels to their college and hospital classrooms.
Cycle:
In the strategic location of the university, cycles are placed for staff and students to commute within the campus.
Blending Biodiesel:
Provision to blend biodiesel up to 10% with diesel in vehicle is provided by the university. Selected buses and staff are blending biodiesel produced in the biodiesel centre for personal vehicles.
Academics and Research
University has started M.Tech in Electric Vehicle Technology program in collaboration with industry to cater skilled human resource in the field of clean energy.
International Conference on Advances in Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicles (AREEV-2023) was held on 19th and 20th December 2023. Nanomaterials and Energy devices Research laboratory is inaugurated on 27th October 2023.
Research activities are carried out in line with SDG 7. During the year 2023 total 49 research articles are published in the affordable and clean energy theme. Total 6 book and book chapters are published.
Awareness and Outreach
- University celebrated world biofuel day on 10th August 2023. Sapling of biofuel plants were carried out by staff and students.
- Mr. V Sunil Kumar, Minister for Power and Kannada & Culture, Govt. of Karnataka and Kurma Rao M, IAS, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate visited the newly renovated Udupi District Bioenergy Research, Information and Demonstration Centre at NMAMIT Campus, Nitte on 3rd March 2023. Dr. Santhosh Poojary, Assistant Professor and Scientific Assistant, Biofuel Centre spoke about the technologies developed at the Centre and submitted a project proposal on Biogas for Electricity Generation.
- A quiz on Green Energy and its importance in sustainability of the
world in the present days was conducted by the Renewable Energy
Club of university on 3rd September 2023
Production of Advanced Biofuels from Hydro- Thermochemical Processing of Biomass
Sanction No. : N/RG/NUFR1/NMAMIT/2023/02
Principal Investigator : Dr. Santhosh Poojary Assistant Professor, NMAMIT
Amount Sanctioned : Rs. 1,50,000/- (Received for the year 2023)
Status : Ongoing
Institute : NMAMIT
Description : The main aim of the project is to carryout research on Advanced Biofuels.
Objectives:
- Optimization of the bio feedstock pre-treatment operations.
- Optimizing the reaction conditions of Hydro-thermochemical process for advanced Biofuel production in a reactor system by designing new catalytical systems
- Development of techniques for separation and purification of reaction products
- Analysis of major fuel properties to ensure the Advanced Biofuel quality
- The establishment of lab scale facility for Advanced Biofuel production
- Subsequent research with commercialization potential using locally available bio-feedstocks
Bioenergy Research Information and Demon- stration Centre (BRIDC) – Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board (KSBDB) Fund, Govt. of Karnataka
Sanction No. : KSBDB/BRIDC Corres/CR-28 Vol VI/2016-17/97 (dated 28.08.2023)
Investigator : Dr. Ujwal P,. Professor & Head, Dept. of BT
NMAMIT (Co-ordinator)
Dr. Santhosh Poojary,
Amount Sanctioned: Rs. 3,80,000/- (Received for the year 2023)
Status : Ongoing
Institute : NMAMIT
Description:
The Udupi District BRIDC, is one among 32 information and demonstration centres instituted by Karnataka State Government Bio- energy Development Board (KSBDB). The centre educates the scientific community, students, farmers, and public about biofuels and produces biodiesel from wasted cooking oils and various non-edible seeds that available in Udupi district. It also exhibits the technical expertise involved in producing biodiesel. Utilisation of environmentally friendly fuels rises as a result of the production of biodiesel from leftover cooking oil and locally available non-edible oil seeds.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle & Solar Charging Laboratory
Sanction No. : 84-118/RIFD/MODROB/Rural/Policy-1/2019-20
Principal Investigator : Dr. Nagesh Prabhu,
Professor & Director,(Curriculum Development),
Nitte (Deemed to be University)
Amount Sanctioned : Rs. 1,49,421/- (Received for the year 2023)
Status : Ongoing
Institute : NMAMIT
Description:
The laboratory set-up aims to introduce the concept of Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology and to demonstrate various components associated with electric and hybrid drive train. The laboratory has a solar charging facility with 3.5kW, 48V solar panels. The newly set-up “Hybrid Electric Vehicle & Solar Charging Laboratory” is used for training students and faculty in the area of Electric Vehicle Technology. This lab is being used as Skill Development laboratory by all first year B.E./B.Tech. students of NMAM Institute of Technology. A total of 1100 students have been benefitted every year by the laboratory where concept of EV and solar charging are disseminated to the students.
Book/Book Chapter:
A total of six book/book chapters with respect to affordable and clean energy were published by the faculty of NMAM Institute of Technology (NMAMIT), A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (ABSMIDS) and Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER).
