Prof. Shamsundar of NIE-CREST interacts with MGP members

Mysore/Mysuru: Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) held a virtual interactive session on the topic ‘Green and Renewable Energy Technologies for Home and Apartments’ here recently.

Prof. Shamsundar Subbarao, Head, NIE Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (NIE-CREST), spoke on various means of generating renewable energies for day-to-day life from the neglected tonnes of everyday waste which, when processed properly, would not only generate new energies but also reduce pollution, develop clean and green atmosphere. 

Stressing on the segregation of waste at home, he advised people to convert wet waste into compost and handover dry waste to Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to make by-products and dispose off the least rejected like the biomedical and sanitary waste to MCC for recycling.

Biomass technology 

He explained about generating renewable energy from biomass in the form of compost through plastic drums placed in a corner within the compound or at the top of the house if no space is available at the ground level, filled with food waste from kitchen, vegetable waste etc., which is being converted as organic manure and used for plants grown in the compound. 

“As an entrepreneur, I have taken up similar projects at my home and getting benefited in the form of manure and biogas. This type of arrangements are being followed in several apartments in Siddartha Layout, at Pramathi School, at Deputy Commissioner’s residence, Mysuru Zoo  and at some houses in Chikkahalli village near city,” he added.

Prof. Shamsundar said several awareness programmes have been  held  by CREST team with students visiting various schools where young students learn more quickly and follow. 

Similarly the wet waste in large quantities is stored in big tanks to produce biogas to supplement the LPG at the kitchen to save gas cost. 

The MCC Pourakarmikas are also trained to take up similar projects out of the wet waste and create community development, he explained. Even the temple waste including used flowers are being used for generating the compost to be recycled as manure to the flower plants grown in temples. 

Similarly, biofuel /biodiesel generated out of plants including neem, honge, jatroppa, are used as fuel along with diesel for vehicles. 

Solar energy converted to power for homes

Referring to another aspect of PPP model of renewable energy generation through solar panels on roof tops investing over Rs.1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh, he  explained that the house owners could get benefit of power generation required for homes and also avail benefit from selling surplus power to the power grid at a reasonable rate and wipe off the investment expenses in due course. These projects are included in the syllabus of final year Engineering students. Such projects have been executed in apartments, tribal hamlets near Hunsur etc., as a measure of community development, he said. 

Rain water harvesting

In a further reference to the methods of renewable energy generation for public life, he mentioned that rain water harvesting is one of the important projects for utilisation of natural resources and utilising them for day-to-day life and earn incentives for such projects in the form of subsidy from the Government. Rain water  harvesting is being followed at Mysore Palace, Mysore Silk factory, Bandipur and Nagarahole forest ranges, he added. 

Power generation from windmills

Similar are the projects connected with erecting of windmills on hilltops and at sea coasts to generate power with low cost and earn more benefits, he said.

Summing up the discussion, Prof. Shamsundar wanted people to take up such renewable energy projects with new technology and innovative gadgets right from the kitchen level to big projects for energy generation to help not only themselves but also for sustaining the next generation to be comfortable and called for the involvement of younger generation without waiting for the Government to come up with their projects. 

S.V. Raghavendra, EC member of MGP, introduced the speaker. K.V. Ramanath, Treasurer, MGP, proposed a vote of thanks. Other participants included Dr. Shivamurthy, MGP President, C.R. Aswathanarayana, Working President, EC members Sreemathi, Vijayalakshmi Srinivasan, Dr.T.N. Manjunath, Vasanthakumar Mysoremath and Venkatesh Kharidi. For any information to join MGP, contact Ph: 0821-2515150, after 5 pm.