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Energy & Fuel Users’ Journal October – December 2019

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ENFUSE Volume – LXIX Book 3 October - December 2019 EDITORIAL BOARD Editor: MadhavanNampoothiri Advisors: Dr. R Natarajan Mr. G Thangaraj (Past President) Dr. Jatin Nathwani, WISE (University of Waterloo) Members Ex-Officio: Mr. S Ramalingam, President Dr. K Mamallan, Secretary Mr. K Sadasiva Chetty, Treasurer Mr. S Jeyaraman, Joint Secretary Mr. S R Pradhish Kumaar, Joint Secretary Members: Dr. A Peer Fathima, Chairman Academic Interface Mr. Ramnath S Mani Vice President, Southern Region Mr. G L Srinivasan, Immediate Past President Publisher: Mr. S Ramalingam Honorary President Energy & Fuel Users’ Assn. of India Editorial-cum-Admn. Office: No.4 B1 J P Tower 7/2 Nungambakkam High Road Chennai 600 034, INDIA Phone: 091-44-48502133 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Dear Reader, Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. 2020 will be a momentous year for the energy industry and for the global fight against climate change. The USA will elects it new president at the end of 2020, and if President Trump is re-elected, US would have officially pulled out of the Paris agreement, and he would continue his support for the fossil fuel industry and weaken the global coalition fighting against climate change. While the new European Parliament is rolling out a Green Deal, the US’s active undermining of the global fight against climate change will slow down the progress that is being made. Nonetheless, many of the US states and the global financial sector is committing themselves to fight climate change, and there is hope that the grassroot support will help in fighting climate change. In this edition of Enfuse Journal, we have an eclectic mix of articles, including one on the Europe’s Green Deal. The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2019 also finds a place in this Journal and it details the constantly changing energy mix of the world and how renewables and battery storage is likely to evolve in the future. More articles on energy, water, commodities required for the energy industry and life style issues that climate change are featured in this Journal. Apart from a collection of articles on global issues on energy and other related areas, we have our regular updates on the activities related to ENFUSE during the quarter. These include events conducted along with the Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Energy(WISE), Canada. We hope you find the information in this Journal interesting and useful. Do share your comments and suggestions on the contents of the Journal. On behalf of the ENFUSE team, I once again wish you all a successful 2020. MADHAVAN NAMPOOTHIRI

EDITORIAL

[Cite your source here.]

mailto:[email protected]



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FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

The third quarter of 2019 – 20 witnessed a

spate of well planned crowded activities with

ENFUSE. The first one had been the long

awaited International event titled “Access to

Affordable Clean Energy” at SRMIST under co-

sponsorship with University of Waterloo. The

second one had been a one day workshop on

“Implementing Sustainable Development –

Overview of Emerging Technologies” at CPCL

RESOT. The third one had been on the topic of

“Non-Destructive Testing on Buried Oil Pipe

Lines” at Indian Society for Non-Destructive

Testing. All the three events were well attended

and the highlights of the event are appearing in

the other pages of this journal.

We wish to thank Waterloo Institute of

Sustainable Energy of University of Waterloo,

SRM Institute of Science and Technology and

Indian Society for Non-destructive Testing for

the wholehearted support provided to ensure

great success of the events. We also thank the

Office bearers and faculty members of ENFUSE

who worked very hard to bring out the events

to the total satisfaction of the participating

delegates.

Our members are aware that ENFUSE is deeply

committed with WISE in seeking a solution

towards achieving Affordable Energy for

Humanity and all the above events have been

carefully designed to fit into our core

objective.Deep disparities define today’s energy

world: oil markets and geopolitical tensions,

carbon emissions and climate targets, the

promise of energy for all and the lack of

electricity access for 850 million people around

the world.

World Energy Outlook 2019 explores these

widening fractures in detail. It explains the

impact of today’s decisions on tomorrow’s

energy systems, and describes a pathway that

enables the world to meet climate, energy

access and air quality goals while maintaining a

strong focus on the reliability and affordability

of energy for a growing global population.

Excerpts of the Executive summary of the

report is appearing as the opening article of this

issue.

The gap between the promise of energy for all

and the fact that almost one billion people still

do not have access to electricity. The gap

between the latest scientific evidence

highlighting the need for evermore- rapid cuts

in global greenhouse gas emissions and the data

showing that energy-related emissions hit

another historic high in 2018. The gap between

expectations of fast, renewables-driven energy

transitions and the reality of today’s energy

systems in which reliance on fossil fuels remains

stubbornly high.

The Current Policies Scenario shows what

happens if the world continues along its present

path, without any additional changes in

policy. In this scenario, energy demand rises by

1.3% each year to 2040, with increasing

demand for energy services unrestrained by

further efforts to improve efficiency. While this

is well below the remarkable 2.3% growth seen

in 2018, it would result in a relentless upward

march in energy-related emissions, as well as

growing strains on almost all aspects of energy

security.

The Sustainable Development Scenario maps

out away to meet sustainable energy goals in

full, requiring rapid and widespread changes

across all parts of the energy system.


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This scenario charts a path fully aligned with the

Paris Agreement by holding the rise in global

temperatures to “well below 2°C … and

pursuing efforts to limit [it] to 1.5°C”, and

meets objectives related to universal energy

access and cleaner air. The breadth of the

world’s energy needs means that there are no

simple or single solutions. Sharp emission cuts

are achieved across the board thanks to

multiple fuels and technologies providing

efficient and cost-effective energy services for

all.

Cost reductions in renewables and advances in digital technologies are opening huge opportunities for energy transitions, while creating some new energy security dilemmas. A sharp pick-up in efficiency improvements is the single most important element that brings the world towards the Sustainable Development Scenario.

The pursuit of all economically viable opportunities for efficiency improvement can reduce global energy intensity by more than 3% each year. This includes efforts to promote the efficient design, use and recycling of materials such as steel, aluminium, cement and plastics. This increased “material efficiency” could be enough in itself to halt the growth in emissions from these sectors. Innovative approaches also include the use of digital tools to shift electricity demand to cheaper and less emissions-intensive hours of the day, reducing electricity bills for consumers and helping with system balancing, while also helping to reduce emissions With the above random thoughts let us looks forward with optimism to be a partner in the national stream to bring about the changes to face the challenges in the Indian Energy Sector. With Seasons’ Greetings & Best Wishes S. RAMALINGAM

WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

• Try not to give into mindless indulgence, and rather shop for what you need. If the

need is somehow overtaken by want, try and source consciously through sustainable

sources or borrow or buy second-hand outfits.

• Try and avoid splurging on run-of-the mill deals, and spend some time to research on

the brands and products that you wish to purchase.

• Reducing clutter is healthy, but doing it the right way is essential. Donate clothes

that you have been hoarding while they are still in a usable condition.

• Swapping clothes is cool. For the clothes that you cannot use due to minor defects,

repurpose them as rags or pillow cushions. Several brands help upcycling old clothes

into new at nominal charges.


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ENFUSE NEWS Student Chapter at Aarupadai Veedu

Institute of Technology on 16th October

2019:

ENFUSE – AVIT student chapter was

Inaugurated on 16th October 2019 by Mr. S

Ramalingam, President, ENFUSE . The President

delivered a special lecture on “Energy

Management Emerging Challenges” highlighting

on the importance of energy efficiency

improvements in all sectors of Indian economy.

The various measures taken by government like

Energy Conservation Act 2002, National Solar

Mission, National Mission on Energy Efficiency,

etc. were discussed in detail for the benefit of

the students.

Conference On ‘Urbon Thinker’s Campus -

Making Chennai Water Positive: A

Background Paper’ On 8th & 9th November

2019 At Rain Tree Hotel:

The conference is designated an Urban Thinkers

Campus (UTC) under the umbrella of the United

Nations-World Urban Campaign Secretariat.

This event is organized by MCCI in partnership

with IIT Madras and National Institute of Urban

Affairs (NIUA), E-Konnect Knowledge

Foundation and Care Earth Trust. The MCCI is

one of the premier industrial promotional

organization in southern India and is currently

into its 184th year of service to trade and

industry. The MCCI has launched the

Sustainable Chennai Forum (SCF) in November

2011 with the aim of assisting and promoting a

business case for sustainable development and

evolving a congenial policy and an action-

oriented environment for the all-round

development of the Chennai Metropolitan

Region.

The issue of water shortage in Chennai has

various dimensions-technical, financial,

institutional, economic, environmental and

social. All these dimensions will be touched

upon during the conference. The event brings

together business leaders, government entities,

academics, entrepreneurs, NGOs, technology

providers, water conservation experts and civic

society to discuss the current challenges and

issues and finding ways to move forward to

make Chennai water-positive. The conference

is for two days. A wide range of topics will be

discussed and deliberated upon.

Mr. Hans Raj Verma, IAS., Additional Chief

Secretary to Government . Rural Development

and Panchayat Raj, Department Government of

Tamil Nadu , State Nodal Officer, Jal Shaki

Abhiyan and Dr. Umamaheswaran Rajasekar,

Chair, Urban Resilience, National Institute of

Urban Affairs, New Delhi participated in the

Inagural Session.

International Workshop on “Access to

Clean Energy for Humanity” on 5th to 7th

December 2019 at SRM University,

Kattankulathur:

The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, is organizing a 3 days International Multidisciplinary workshop on “ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY TO HUMANITY “during December 5th -7th, 2019. This workshop is conducted in association with Energy and Fuel Users Association ENFUSE-India, co-sponsored by Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), Waterloo University, Canada.

The Inaugural function of the International workshop had a spectacular start at 9.30 AM in Mini hall-1 –TP Ganesan Auditorium. Dr. K. Vijayakumar, HOD EEE, welcomed the Vice Chancellor of SRMIST, Chief guest Prof. Maurice Dusseault Professor, University of Waterloo Canada, Mr. S. Ramalingam national president of ENFUSE, Mr. Panneerselvam chief general


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manager CPCL, and other dignitaries on the dais and off the dais. Mr. S. Ramalingam apprised the audience about the importance of this workshop and also, he clearly explained session details of the next two days. He pointed out that this workshop may be the initiative for the collaborative research between WISE and SRM.

The Presidential Address was given by Dr. Sandeep Sanchetti, Vice chancellor, SRMIST. In his talk on the significance renewable energy resources for alleviating the carbon footprints, his main focus was on floating solar power system which has many advantages. He further went on to explain the low efficiency of solar panels, which is around 20% and also how efficiency increases when it is placed on water bodies, which acts as a coolant for panels.

Chief guest Intro was given by Dr. R. Sridhar, Associate professor EEE department. Professor Dusseault mainly focused on the need for sustainable development and the availability of affordable renewable energy. Honorary Address by Mr. B. Paneerselvam, has highlighted the impact of fossil fuels on the climatic change. He stated the usefulness of the workshop and asked the participants to utilize the opportunity. Vote thanks was proposed by Dr. A. Rathinam and Mr. S. Senthil murugan coordinated the program. The first technical session was given by Prof. Jatin Nathwani, Director of WISE, University of Waterloo, Canada through audio visual presentation. He addressed the topics like affordable energy, and his ten commandments of design success, various inventions that give these solutions, and

solar enabled off grid internet.

His lecture was succeeded by the technical

session given by Prof. Maurice Dusseault, WISE, Canada. He addressed topics like Decarburization, global heating, drawbacks of various non-conventional sources while also explaining about the practical difficulties in solar and wind energy. He also pointed out the easy implementation of Natural gas as fuel. He

also coined various power storage methods like Pumped Hydro, CAES and P-H-P.

The second technical session was render Mr. V. Sriram , DGM , CPCL who on behalf of Prof. Doug Beynon presented the very famous carbondioxide to methanol project. The final lecture was given by Mr. Akilan, Green Technologies,IITM, Chennai on Eco friendly

Automotive.

Day 2: Date: 6 December, 2019

Time 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

It was a fine, pleasant morning. All the

preparations were put in place to conduct the

workshop by 8:30, under the co-ordination of

Dr. R. Sridhar and Mr. S. Senthilmurugan. The

program began at 9:30 with the Technical

session given by Professor Maurice Dusseault

(WISE, Canada). He provided a non-destructive

testing solution for infrastructures to the

participants. He explained how corrosion can

affect the quality of infrastructures and its

assessment. Further he explained why passive

magnetic method is best in assessing the

damages quantitatively. He also stated the

limitations in the method he proposed using

products developed by InspecTerra

technologies while explaining its accuracy.

After a short tea break the next session was

given by Dr. K Mamallan, Manger, Health &

Safety, CPCL on Theory and Practice of

Sustainable Development. He explained how

Economy, Society and Environment should co-

exist. He also addressed the difficulties in

achieving that due the diversities across the

world and various social issues.

The next lecture was given by Mr. S. Jeyaram

(Joint Secretary, ENFUSE) on Evaluation of

carbon Foot prints and its relevance for

Sustainable development presentation. He gave


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detailed explanation of carbon foot print and

why it is important. He also explained how each

product has its own CFP and how to arrive at it.

Then the participants were taken to the

Industrial Visit at Green Pearl Electronics private

limited, Kattankulathur, Chennai.

The participants taken to the site in a bus, the

travel though short was really refreshing and

fun-filled. At the site, the participants were

split into two groups and the first group

proceeded to the lecture hall were Dr. R.

Sridhar (Associate professor, EEE, SRM-IST) gave

hands on training on PV array configuration. He

also explained about MPPT, LED, Standalone

and Grid Tie Inverter installation. He also gave

problem statements which were solved by the

participants under his guidance.

The other group was taken around the industry and various processes were explained to them. The industrial experts explained about the process of assembling and testing of industrial and domestic LED lights which is being carried out, there at Green Pearl Electronics. Next, they explained about the SMT and TMT processes, through which assembling of components in a circuit board (may be FR4 or MCpcb) is being

done. Day 3: Date: 07 December, 2019

Time: 9 00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

The last day of this big event has finally arrived.

All the participants were zealous. The first

session of the day was rendered by Mr. Biswas

(Scientist C, BHAVINI, IGCAR, Kalpakkam). It was

a Hands-on Training encounter with the

Controller Board development for renewable

energy applications. He outlined about the

features of PI Controller and its working using

AT mega 328p through dc to dc converter. He

further embellished about its hardware basics.

Participants were made to write Bitwise

programs in Arduino IDE using datasheets. After

a short teatime the next session of the

workshop was bestowed by Prof. R. Dorairaj

(Former Associate Project Director, GSLV, ISRO)

on ‘Search to Innovate because its superior to

research’. He stated that innovation and lateral

thinking are the two keys for research. He also

mentioned about the four steps to innovation,

four wisdoms and four emotions. He shared his

personal experience with us regarding his first

encounter during his interview for getting into

ISRO. He finally proclaimed that there is nothing

more difficult to handle, more doubtful of

success, more dangerous to carry out than

initiating changes. After a quick lunch break,

Prof. Maurice Dusseault (WISE, Canada) started

to impart his knowledge over ‘Wind Tower

Cooling’ with the students. He gave an insight

that this was designed by ancestors and was

termed as ‘Evaporative cooling’. It can also be

coupled with air conditioner for more

effectiveness and to reduce energy

consumption. He then further enhanced about

this procedure using its architecture. Later a

short speech was given by Mr. Santhosh

Eswaran (B.Tech ,Eee)on VSI Technology. He

talked about virtual reality and its training

programs and stated about a virtual reality

equipment which has already been made by

him with the help of the institution. The

concluding session was presented by Mr. V.

Sriram, DGM (O), CPCL, Chennai on ‘Overview

of CO2 Green Methanol Project’. He discussed

about how bio gas is being produced at diary

farms into renewable natural gas (RNG) through

methanation. He also mentioned about the

conversion of CO2into biomethane (biogas)

which is non other than RNG and culminated

the final session of the workshop by explaining

in detail about its five stepwise process which is

carried out through the process of

methanogenesis. Thus, all the lectures and

training given so far were really informative and

useful. At the end of the day, finally the

valedictory function took place where all the


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participants, faculties were honoured by giving

certificates .Also there was a feedback from

provided to all the participants which was

aimed at knowing their views about the 3 day

workshop, what they learnt and what they

would like to share with us for improvement.

On the whole, this workshop has become a

huge success only because of perseverance and

good team work of the students, faculties due

to their cooperation and contribution towards

it.

Workshop on “Implementing Sustainable

Development – Over view of Emerging

Technologies” on 9th December 2019 at

CPCL RESOT

Taking into account that there is a great need

among Indian corporates to develop in-house

thought leadership, promoting awareness and

building capacity of the enterprises on issues of

sustainable development and inclusive growth,

the workshop on “Implementing Sustainable

Development – Overview of Emerging

Technologies“ was organized on 9th December

2019 at CPCL RESOT for the benefit of Manali

based Petroleum and Petrochemical industries.

Around 40 delegates from drawn from

industries attended the workshop. The

Inaugural session was presided over by Mr. G

Aravindan, Director (Operations),

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL) and

the Chief Guest was Dr. Maurice Dusseault,

Professor, University of Waterloo. A special

address was delivered by Mr. S P Selvam,

Director, and Chief Regional Coordinator,

Petroleum Conservation Research Association

(PCRA).

Dr. Maurice Dusseault delivered informative

lectures on the following topics:

i. CO2 Emission capture and

conversion to green methanol

ii. Compressed Air Energy Storage

(CAES)

iii. Non-destructive testing: Buried

Oil and Gas Pipeline Inspection

iv. Enhanced Geothermal Systems

(EGS)

v. Wind Tower Cooling

Mr. V Sriram, Deputy General Manager (O),

CPCL presented the paper from Dr. Doug

Beynon, CEO, Associate Chemical

Technologies, Canada on “CO2 capture and

conversion to green methanol. He brought to

focus that under the context that the

expansion growth prospects being limited by

environmental regulations due to CO2

emissions in the Manali industrial belt, how the

new technology can bring about a viable

solution.

Lecture Programme at Indian Society for Non-

destructive Testing (ISNT) on 9th December

2019

ENFUSE organized a lecture by Dr. Maurice

Dusseault at ISNT on 9th December 2019 on the

topics:

1. Non-destructive testing of buried oil & gas pipe line

2. Non-destructive testing of reinforced concrete in structures


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International Workshop with the Group of External

Delegates

International Workshop at SRMIST - ENFUSE Group

of Student Members

Dr. Maurice Dusseault, Professor, Waterloo

University delivering the lecture at SRMIST -

International Workshop

Dr. Mamallan, Secretary, ENFUSE delivering the

lecture at SRMIST – International Workshop


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Mr. S Jeyaram, Joint Secretary, ENFUSE delivering the lecture at SRMIST - International

Workshop

A view of audience at SRMIST - International Workshop

A view of audience at Aarupadai Veedu Institute of

Technology at the inauguration of student chapter

Mr. G Aravindan, Director (O) CPCL at the

Workshop at CPCL RESOT


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A view of audience at Workshop at CPCL RESOT

Mr. S P Selvam, Director, and Chief Regional

Coordinator, PCRA at Workshop, CPCL RESOT

Mr. V Sriram, DGM (O), CPCL delivering the lecture

at Workshop CPCL RESOT

Workshop at CPCL RESOT


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CONTENTS

Page No.

1. World Energy Outlook 2019 …………………………….. 12

2. Making Chennai Water – Positive: A background paper ………………………………………….. 16

3. The Future of Work ………………………………………….. 23

4. “Smart” Light Bulbs may be used to hack

Personal Info …………………………………………………….. 25

5. World can make water from sea, but at

what cost? ……………………………………………………….. 26

6. The children are cursing US ……………………………….. 28

7. ‘It goes way beyond solar panels … if you take

meat-eating across the world, then that is driving

deforestation in the Amazon’ …………………………….. 30

8. High lights of our world ……………………………………… 32

9. Europe’s Green Deal ………………………………………….. 35

10. Precious Metals of the Future.………………………….. 37

11. Conference of the Parties COP 25 …………………….. 40


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Understanding our scenarios

The Current Policies Scenario shows what happens if the world continues along its present path, without any additional changes in policy. In this scenario, energy demand rises by 1.3% each year to 2040, with increasing demand for energy services unrestrained by further efforts to improve efficiency. While this is well below the remarkable 2.3% growth seen in 2018, it would result in a relentless upward march in energy-related emissions, as well as growing strains on almost all aspects of energy security.

Energy security remains paramount, and oil stays in the spotlight

A fast-moving energy sector highlights the importance of a broad and dynamic approach to energy security. The attacks in Saudi Arabia in September 2019 underlined that traditional energy security risks have not gone away. Meanwhile, new hazards – from cyber security to extreme weather – require constant vigilance from governments. We estimate that almost one-fifth of the growth in global energy use in 2018 was due to hotter summers pushing up demand for cooling and cold snaps leading to higher heating needs.

Shale output from the United States stays higher for longer, reshaping global markets, trade flows and security. Annual US production growth slows from the breakneck pace seen in recent years, but updated official estimates of underlying resources nonetheless mean that the United States accounts for 85% of the increase in global oil production to 2030 in the Stated Policies Scenario, and for 30% of the increase in gas. This bolsters the position of the

United States as an exporter of both fuels. By 2025, total US shale output (oil and gas) overtakes total oil and gas production from Russia.

Higher US output pushes down the share of OPEC countries and Russia in total oil production. This share drops to 47% in 2030, from 55% in the mid-2000s, implying that efforts to manage conditions in the oil market could face strong headwinds. Pressures on the hydrocarbon revenues of some of the world’s major producers also underline the importance of their efforts to diversify their economies.

Whichever pathway the energy system follows, the world still relies heavily on oil supply from the Middle East. The region remains by far the largest net provider of oil to world markets, as well as an important exporter of LNG. This means that one of the world’s busiest trade routes, the Strait of Hormuz, retains its position as a crucial artery for global energy trade, especially for Asian countries such as China, India, Japan and Korea that rely heavily on imported fuel. In the Stated Policies Scenario, 80% of international oil trade ends up in Asia in 2040, propelled in large part by a doubling of India’s import needs.

Electricity moves to the heart of modern energy security

Cost reductions in renewables and advances in digital technologies are opening huge opportunities for energy transitions, while creating some new energy security dilemmas. Wind and solar PV provide more than half of the additional electricity generation to 2040 in the Stated Policies Scenario and almost all the growth in the Sustainable Development

World Energy Outlook 2019

Excepts from Executive Summary


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Scenario. Policy makers and regulators will have to move fast to keep up with the pace of technological change and the rising need for flexible operation of power systems. Issues such as the market design for storage, the interface between electric vehicles and the grid, and data privacy all have the potential to expose consumers to new risks.

An urgent need to take full advantage of the world’s “first fuel”

The faltering momentum behind global energy efficiency improvements is cause for deep concern. It comes against a backdrop of rising needs for heating, cooling, lighting, mobility and other energy services. Improvements in the energy intensity of the global economy (the amount of energy used per unit of economic activity) are slowing: the 1.2% improvement in 2018 was around half the average rate seen since 2010. This reflects a relative lack of new energy efficiency policies and of efforts to tighten existing measures.

A sharp pick-up in efficiency improvements is the single most important element that brings the world towards the Sustainable Development Scenario. The pursuit of all economically viable opportunities for efficiency improvement can reduce global energy intensity by more than 3% each year. This includes efforts to promote the efficient design, use and recycling of materials such as steel, aluminium, cement and plastics. This increased “material efficiency” could be enough in itself to halt the growth in emissions from these sectors. Innovative approaches also include the use of digital tools to shift electricity demand to cheaper and less emissions-intensive hours of the day, reducing electricity bills for consumers and helping with system balancing, while also helping to reduce emissions.

Critical fuel choices hang in the balance

A three-way race is underway among coal, natural gas and renewables to provide power and heat to Asia’s fast-growing economies. Coal is the incumbent in most developing Asian countries: new investment decisions in coal-using infrastructure have slowed sharply, but the large stock of existing coal-using power plants and factories (and the 170 GW of IEA. All rights reserved. 4 World Energy Outlook 2019 capacity under construction worldwide), provides coal with considerable staying power in the Stated Policies Scenario. Renewables are the main challenger to coal in Asia’s power sector, led by China and India. Developing countries in Asia account for over half of the global growth in generation from renewables. Demand for natural gas has been growing fast as a fuel for industry and (in China) for residential consumers, spurring a worldwide wave of investment in new LNG supply and pipeline connections. In our projections, 70% of the increase in Asia’s gas use comes from imports – largely from LNG – but the competitiveness of this gas in price-sensitive markets remains a key uncertainty.

However fast overall energy demand grows, electricity grows faster

Electricity use grows at more than double the pace of overall energy demand in the Stated Policies Scenario, confirming its place at the heart of modern economies. Growth in electricity use in the Stated Policies Scenario is led by industrial motors (notably in China), followed by household appliances, cooling and electric vehicles. In the Sustainable Development Scenario, electricity is one of the few energy sources that sees growing consumption in 2040 – mainly due to electric vehicles – alongside the direct use of renewables, and hydrogen. The share of electricity in final consumption, less than half that of oil today, overtakes oil by 2040.

Solar PV becomes the largest component of global installed capacity in the Stated Policies


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Scenario. The expansion of generation from wind and solar PV helps renewables overtake coal in the power generation mix in the mid-2020s. By 2040, low-carbon sources provide more than half of total electricity generation. Wind and solar PV are the star performers, but hydropower (15% of total generation in 2040) and nuclear (8%) retain major shares.

Battery costs matter

The speed at which battery costs decline is a critical variable for power markets as well as for electric cars. India is the largest overall source of energy demand growth in this year’s Outlook, and we examine how a cost-effective combination of cheaper battery storage and solar PV could reshape the evolution of India’s power mix in the coming decades. Battery IEA. All rights reserved. Executive Summary 5 storage is well suited to provide the short-term flexibility that India needs, allowing a lunchtime peak in solar PV supply to meet an early evening peak in demand. In the Stated Policies Scenario, a major reduction in battery costs means that some 120 GW of storage are installed by 2040. We also examine the possibility that battery costs could decline even faster – an extra 40% by 2040 – because of greater industrial economies of scale or a breakthrough in battery chemistry, for example. In this case, combined solar and battery storage plants would be a very compelling economic and environmental proposition, reducing sharply India’s projected investment in new coal-fired power plants.

Offshore wind is gathering speed

Cost reductions and experience gained in Europe’s North Sea are opening up a huge renewable resource. Offshore wind has the technical potential to meet today’s electricity demand many times over. It is a variable source of generation, but offshore wind offers considerably higher capacity factors than solar PV and onshore wind thanks to ever-larger

turbines that tap higher and more reliable wind speeds farther away from shore. There are further innovations on the horizon, including floating turbines that can open up new resources and markets.

Increasingly cost-competitive offshore wind projects are on course to attract a trillion dollars of investment to 2040. Europe’s success with the technology has sparked interest in China, the United States and elsewhere. In the Sustainable Development Scenario, offshore wind rivals its onshore counterpart as the leading source of electricity generation in the European Union, paving the way to full decarbonisation of Europe’s power sector. Even higher deployment is possible if offshore wind becomes the foundation for the production of low-carbon hydrogen.

Tackling the legacy issues head on

If the world is to turn today’s emissions trend around, it will need to focus not only on new infrastructure but also on the emissions that are “locked in” to existing systems. That means addressing emissions from existing power plants, factories, cargo ships and other capital-intensive infrastructure already in use. Despite rapid changes in the power sector, there is no decline in annual power-related CO2 emissions in the Stated Policies Scenario. A key reason is the longevity of the existing stock of coal-fired power plants that account for 30% of all energy-related emissions today. Over the past 20 years, Asia has accounted for 90% of all coal-fired capacity built worldwide, and these plants have potentially long operational lifetimes ahead of them. In developing economies in Asia, existing coal-fired plants are just 12 years old on average. We consider three options to bring down emissions from the existing stock of plants: to retrofit them with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) or biomass co-firing equipment; to repurpose them to focus on providing system adequacy and flexibility while reducing operations; or to retire them


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early. In the Sustainable Development Scenario, most of the 2 080 GW of existing coal-fired capacity would be affected by one of these three options.

Gas Grids

Gas grids provide a crucial mechanism to bring energy to consumers, typically delivering more energy than electricity networks and providing a valuable source of flexibility. From an energy security perspective, parallel gas and electricity grids can be complementary assets. From an energy transitions perspective, natural gas can provide near-term benefits when replacing more polluting fuels. A key longer-term question is whether gas grids can deliver truly low- or zero-carbon energy sources, such as low-carbon hydrogen and biomethane. Low-carbon hydrogen is enjoying a wave of interest, although for the moment it is relatively expensive to produce. Blending it into gas networks would offer a way to scale up supply technologies and reduce costs. Our new assessment of the sustainable potential for biomethane supply (produced from organic wastes and residues) suggests that it could cover some 20% of today’s gas demand. Recognition of the value of avoided CO2 and methane emissions would go a long way towards improving the cost competitiveness of both options.

Shale and solar PV show that rapid change is possible, but the direction and speed is set by governments

Ten years ago, the idea that the United States could become a net exporter of both oil and gas

was almost unthinkable. Yet the shale revolution – and over $1 trillion in upstream and midstream investment – is making this a reality. The foundations date back to a publicly funded research and development effort that began in the 1970s. This was followed by tax credits, market reforms and partnerships that provided a platform for private initiative, innovation, investment and rapid reductions in cost.

Today, solar PV and some other renewable technologies – mostly in the power sector – are similarly turning initial policy and financial support into large-scale deployment. Transforming the entire energy system will require progress across a much wider range of energy technologies, including efficiency, CCUS, hydrogen, nuclear and others. It will also require action across all sectors, not just electricity.

Meeting rising demand for energy services, including universal access, while cutting emissions is a formidable task: all can help, but governments must take the lead. Initiatives from individuals, civil society, companies and investors can make a major difference, but the greatest capacity to shape our energy destiny lies with governments. It is governments that set the conditions that determine energy innovation and investment. It is governments to whom the world looks for clear signals and unambiguous direction about the road ahead.

Coutesy: Excerpts from International Energy Agency.


16

There has been a phenomenal growth in urbanization worldwide. According to the UN-Habitat, six out of ten people are expected to reside in urban areas by 2030. India is also witnessing the same pattern of growth. It is estimated that around 34% of India’s population resides in urban areas, up from 28.53% in 2001. The growth in cities is mainly due to population expansion and migration. This puts pressure on city land and infrastructure, especially on water supply systems.

In India, Tamil Nadu is the most urbanized state among the major states, with around 48.4% of the population living in urban areas. Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is the fourth largest metropolis in India. It is a key administrative centre, and also a much sought-after travel and investment destination for industry, commerce, finance, education, tourism and others.

The Chennai city area economy is India’s fourth largest, with a GDP per capita growth that was the highest in India during 2000-2014. The World Bank has ranked Chennai ninth among Asia-Pacific super-rich cities. Major drivers of growth are both the traditional manufacturing sector, and its ‘new economy’ comprising the IT and IT-Enabled Services (ITES) sectors, fintech etc. The manufacturing sector is made up of large industries in the automobile, electrical, oil refining, chemical petrochemical sectors and many others. Due to a large number of automobile and related ancillary industries, Chennai is known as the Detroit of India.

Chennai also has two ports and an international airport. A large number of multinational companies have their operations in Chennai. The large industries are supported by small and

medium enterprises (SMEs) located in various industrial estates in and around Chennai.

At the same time, the city’s geography combined with rapid growth and impact of climate change, has created severe water stress over the years resulting in floods, storms, tsunami and droughts. Be it the periodic water shortages right from the 1970s, or more recently, the floods of 2015, cyclone Vardah of 2016 or the severe drought of 2019, the people of Chennai across different segments have suffered through them all. Chennai seems to be in the grip of a perennial water crisis, adversely affecting city tap-water supply-both of quantity and of quality. In the absence of adequate piped water supply, households, offices and other establishments are forced to depend on private water supplies. This has not only increased the cost of living for the citizens, but has also affected productive man hours as was evident from out survey which we undertook in may 2019 to assess the impact of water shortage this summer.

Chennai gets most of its annual rainfall during the North-East monsoon in the period October-December. This year the monsoon has commenced in mid-October. According to a report in The Hindu dated November 6, 2019, the combined full storage capacity of the four city reservoirs at Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam is 11250 million cubic feet (mc feet). The actual storage as of November 5, 2019 was recorded at 2982 mc feet (i.e.) 26.5%. According to Metro water sources, this is sufficient for six months. If further rain is not received, again Chennai would face water scarcity in the summer of 2020. Water supply in Chennai is therefore much dependent on the vagaries of the

MAKING CHENNAI WATER-POSITIVE:

A BACKGROUND PAPER.

(Reproduced from the report at the conference by MCCI)


17

monsoon. Chennai also has the lowest per-capita water availability among India’s large cities. The Central Public Health Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) guidelines of the Government of India state that per capita water

availability should be 135 litres/day but in Chennai the amount is 90 litres/capita/day and 25 litres/capita/day to slum areas.

The World Resources Institute (WRI), the international institution with authoritative expertise in water resources and climate change impact, has produced an atlas of water stressed areas. In this atlas, Chennai is identified as an area of extreme high stress in which at least 80% of all water resources is used up by municipal and industrial demand. Hence, if there is a 15-20% shortfall due to deficient rainfall the city faces water stress immediately.

There is an urgent need for a comprehensive long-term solution to the severe water crisis facing Chennai. Adequate water at affordable cost must be made available to all consumers, be them industries, commercial establishments, institutions and residents. This has to be implemented in a comprehensive manner if Chennai wants to realize its target of becoming a smart city, a livable city and a globally competitive city.

An overview of the following would throw some light on the current status and what needs to be done for Chennai to become a Water Positive city.

Current Estimated demand

The area covered by Chennai city and surrounding urbanized areas is 426 sq.km. The population of Chennai city and surrounding urbanized areas is recorded as around 8.6 million according to the 2011 census. The population of Chennai and surrounding urbanized areas nearly doubled during the two decades preceding 2011 due to migration and other factors. Today, the population of the Chennai region would stand at around 10 million. Anecdotally, a popular belief in Tamilnadu is that Tamilnadu has ten crore

population out of which about one crore lives and works in Chennai. CPHEEO norms state that per capita water availability should be at least 135 litres/capita/day. By this requirement, a rough estimate shows a water demand of around 1350 million litres/day (MLD) for a population of ten million. To be added is the demand from industries.

To corroborate the above, reference was made to Metro water data. According to the Metro water website, the water requirement for Chennai region including Chennai city and the adjacent and distant urbanized areas projected for 2021 is 1650 MLD and the industries demand is 330 MLD. Therefore, the total consolidated water demand for the year 2021 is 1980 MLD. Since 2021 is not too far off, we may consider 1980 MLD as a reliable estimate for the water demand for Chennai, for the purpose of this note.

The following are the key information about the Chennai water supply system:

• Operational area 426 Sq.km

• Population 86 lakhs

• Water produced (normal years) 830 MLD

• Area covered with piped supply 99%

• Treatment capacity 1494 MLD

• Length of water mains 6697 km

• Number of consumers 876,891

• Major distribution station 16

• Capacity of major reservoirs 11.25 tmc ft

• (Redhills, Poondi, Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram)

• A full storage of 11.25 tmc feet would yield, about 1140 MLD for 365 days.

Actual supply

The normal Metro water supply is reportedly 830 MLD during years with normal monsoon


18

and adequate water availability. Out of this, approximately 180 MLD is provided by the two desalination plants at Nemmeli and Minjur. The remaining is from the Red Hills and other lakes, Veeranam and from Krishna water supply. Hence, even in the best of days when the estimated demand is 1980 MLD and supply is 830 MLD, the consequence is that most residents get water only intermittently once in two or three days.

In 2019 the water supply was further reduced to an average of 500 MLD. This again includes 180 MLD from the two desalination plants. Consumers would have received water once in three or four days if at all. Many tail-end areas went without water for weeks at a stretch. Due to empty pipes, and the proximity of sewer lines, there is a real possibility of sewage water entering empty drinking water lines, leading to public health hazard and risk of epidemics due to the spread of water-borne diseases.

Bridging the shortfall

With the shortfall in availability of fresh water, and the additional uncertainties introduced into the water cycle due to climate change, there is no option but to utilize degraded or hitherto unacceptable sources of water, such as sea water, brackish water, treated sewage and industrial effluent. Reuse of treated sewage and industrial effluent frees up fresh water supplies which could be used to augment municipal drinking water supply.

Geographical setting and Enhancement of Chennai’s natural resources

Chennai is situated in the Chennai river basin. This river basin is defined by three rivers: Kosasthalaiyar, Cooum and Adyar. All three flow from west to east in different sections of the Chennai metropolitan area. The Kosasthalaiyar is a primary supplier of water to Chennai reservoirs. The four main reservoirs of Chennai are Red Hills, Cholavaram, Poondi and Chembarambakkam. All are rain-fed by the seasonal flow of the river mainly during the north-east monsoon.

The Cooum and Adyar are polluted by municipal sewage and dumping of solid waste, and serve as drainage channels. Additionally the Buckingham Canal flows from north to south parallel to the coastline. This was a navigation canal during the British era. However, it is polluted today by domestic and industrial effluent. The water in these watercourses is unfits for drinking or recreation purposes (boating, swimming).

Action has been taken to remedy this situation through ecological restoration of the rivers. The Cooum and Adyar rivers are being restored by the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust, a Trust formed by Government of Tamilnadu. They have successfully restored the Adyar Greek and Estuary areas by creation of the Adyar Eco-Park extending 58 acres, also known as Adyar Poonga. They are now implementing the Coonum River Restoration project.

Apart from the above, an estimated 320 tanks and lakes populate the Chennai region. These are interconnected natural and manmade water bodies. However, over the years many of these water bodies have been converted into residential areas (one such area is known as ‘Eri scheme’, Eri in Tamil meaning lake). Such construction activity in lake beds and interconnecting channels prevents the drainage of excess water during periods of heavy rainfall, and was a reason for aggravating the flood situation of 2015.

Chennai receives an average rainfall of 1300 mm a year. While, this is higher than the Tamil Nadu state average of 940mm, there is a wide variation in the actual rainfall received every year. In the period 1985-2016, the annual rainfall varied from 624mm to 2570mm. Since the Chennai basin does not have perennial rivers, the city water supply is mostly dependent on the monsoon rain.

A judicious mix of augmentation of surface water sources, seawater desalination and sewage reuse along with improvements in the distribution system, would go a long way in improving Chennai’s water security and


19

removing the chronic water shortages. A look at the water use pattern of Chennai would show that out of 1980 MLD, 330 MLD is for industries and the remaining 1650 MLD is for municipal domestic use.

The planned desalination capacity is 750 MLD as explained below. If industries can survive on reuse water (say 300 MLD out of 330 MLD) then there is about 900 MLD remaining which would have to be met from surface sources (Veeranam and Krishna water)

Emerging trend in technologies:

Proven technologies that can be deployed to give Chennai a cost-effective and continuous water supply are readily available. These are briefly enumerated below:

Seawater desalination

Chennai is blessed with a long coastline. Seawater desalination has been successfully used to partially ameliorate Chennai’s water crisis. Two plants each 100 MLD are operating in Nemmeli and Minjur. One more plant of 150 MLD is under construction. A fourth plant of 400 MLD is under planning and development. The total desalination capacity is therefore planned at 750 MLD.

Sewege reuse

Reuse of municipal sewage is widely established worldwide. In Singapore, municipal sewage is recycled and treated to drinking water quality. In Chennai, a plant of 45 MLD was recently commissioned in Kodungaiyur for tertiary treatment of municipal sewage and reuse the water for industry.

Water distribution improvement and 24x7 water supply

Cities in Europe, the US, and Asia (Singapore, Tokyo) have 24x7 water supply with state-of-the-art metering, energy-efficient pumping and distribution networks, supported by advanced instrumentation, IT and efficient customer relations management (CRM). Implementing improvements in Chennai’s distribution system

would significantly improve the operating efficiencies and reduce water losses. Improvements in the distribution system are further discussed below.

Trenchless technology

Trenchless technology is used to lay pipelines without cutting of roads and without disrupting traffic. It is used worldwide and introduced in Indian cities in the last one or two decades. This technology speeds up pipe laying and can be adopted in Chennai.

Improvements in the water distribution system

The distribution system comprising of a large network of pipes covering around 6697 km usually escapes our attention since the pipes are buried underground. Yet it is through these pipes that much precious water is lost. Upgradation and strengthening of the water distribution network is essential to reduce water losses. The distribution network of reservoirs, pumping stations, pipelines and associated infrastructure in most of our cities is very old and most of them are corroded. The pipe network in Chennai is around 6697 km. Additionally, in Chennai there are around eight lakh water supply connections. House service connections are mostly made in an unauthorized and non-standardized manner. Maintenance has been neglected. The result is that at least 40% of the water is lost in transit in many Indian cities. Data is not available for Chennai, but we may assume that distribution losses are significant. Additionally, in Chennai the payment to Metro water is through a flat rate paid annually. Water meters are not installed in houses and apartments. There is no measurement or record of water consumption. A water balance is therefore unable to be developed. Areas of leakage and irregular consumption pattern are not able to be detected and remedied. While electricity metering has been the norm for several years, and the community pays electricity bills in time,


20

water supply has not been favored with the same disciplined consumer behavior.

Improved consumer behavior may be expected from a water supply system which supplies water more-or-less continuously. Efforts must

be made on priority to rehabilitate the distribution system. The present intermittent water supply must be converted to continuous water supply. Leakage of desalinated water, the most expensive grade of water, should be minimized.

Policy and Governance

India has a National Water Policy. This policy was notified in 2012, and encourages a shift away from groundwater to surface water sources. Further, in order of priority, water is first to be allocated for drinking purposes, and then only for other purposes such as irrigation and industry. This policy direction is relevant for us since ground water is extensively used in Chennai. In line with the National Water Policy, surface water should be used to meet the entire demand. Groundwater salinity intrusion is also an issue in many areas. Groundwater regulation is becoming increasingly regulated. Groundwater may be treated as a reserve, to be used only in the case of emergencies.

Institutional arrangements-present governance set-up

The key statutory government body tasked with the planning, implementation and management of the city’s water supply is the Chennai Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB). The CMWSSB is under the administrative charge of the Commissio0nerate of Municipal Administration (CMA), Government of Tamil Nadu. Storm water management is the responsibility of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). City planning is the responsibility of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). In addition to the above, the Government of India is implementing AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission with the purpose of accelerated development and modernization of city infrastructure.

Chennai is selected as one of the smart cities. Chennai’s water managers have helped the city to successfully overcome the challenges caused by various water crises over the years.

Dimensions to be considered

From the above, it is clear that several issues need to be considered in order to ensure adequate water security for Chennai and make Chennai water positive in a cost-effective manner with long-term sustainability. These issues include:

1. Augmenting surface water sources

2. Cost effective seawater Desalination plants

3. Reuse of sewage and industrial effluent

4. Rain-water harvesting

5. Storm water management

6. Reducing water losses in the water supply distribution system

7. Project development and Project Finance

8. Private sector participation

9. Operations and maintenance of the water assets

10. Climate change, and climate-proofing of water infrastructure

11. Conservation of lakes and wetlands

12. Conservation of groundwater and reduction of salinity ingress

13. Institutional and regulatory arrangements for implementing and maintaining upgraded water supply system

14. Affordable Tariff structure

15. Public outreach campaigns

16. Environmental and social issues

17. IT and customer relations management (CRM)


21

Especially, after the summer of 2019, it would not be difficult to convince water users about the advantages and cost-effectiveness of assured continuous water supply against a monthly or two monthly water bill in a transparent manner based on metered water consumption, at a tariff that is more affordable than the combination of tanker supply and use of bubble-top cans, and at the same time helps the water utility to recover the costs incurred to bring water reliably to the consumer’s tap.

For MCCI members there is a strong business case in promoting technologies that employ a smaller and smaller water footprint. In the case of the power sector, thermal power plants are a major consumer of water for use as the cooling medium in surface condensers. Since Tamil Nadu is a water-stressed area, many small and medium thermal power plants in Tamil Nadu have installed air-cooled condensers instead of conventional water-cooled condensers. This eliminates the use of make-up water for power plants. Such demand for water-saving process equipment and systems has made manufacturers of air-cooled condenser systems very successful.

Business opportunities would also be available in areas including but not limited to:

• Technologies which produce reliably drinking or industrial-grade water from degraded water sources (sewage, industrial wastewater, sea or brackish water) especially when incorporated with energy-saving devices e.g. solar powered booster pumps for desalination units

• Supply and operation of modular ship-mounted (or truck-mounted) desalination plants. These can be hired out on lease basis or pay-per-use basis.

• Private sector investment and participation in water supply projects (as per Government policy and regulations for public-private-partnerships (PPP)

• Industrial effluent treatment and zero liquid discharge (ZLD)

• Performance-based Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

• Supply of pipes, valves, instrumentation and control systems

• IT systems and software

• Supply of equipment and spares, chemicals and consumables

• Energy and water audit

• Asset condition assessment and rehabilitation

Conference deliberations

The conference is designated an Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC) under the umbrella of the United Nations-World Urban Campaign Secretariat. This event is organized by MCCI in partnership with IIT Madras and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), e-Konnect Knowledge Foundation and Care Earth Trust. The MCCI is one of the premier industrial promotional organization in southern India and is currently into its 184th year of service to trade and industry. The MCCI has launched the Sustainable Chennai Forum (SCF) in November 2011 with the aim of assisting and promoting a business case for sustainable development and evolving a congenial policy and an action-oriented environment for the all-round development of the Chennai Metropolitan Region.

The issue of water shortage in Chennai has various dimensions-technical, financial, institutional, economic, environmental and social. All these dimensions will be touched upon during the conference. The event brings together business leaders, government entities, academics, entrepreneurs, NGOs, technology providers, water conservation experts and civic society to discuss the current challenges and issues and finding ways to move forward to make Chennai water-positive. The conference


22

is for two days. A wide range of topics will be discussed and deliberated upon.

Next steps

It is expected that the conference will encourage a lively exchange of ideas, dissemination of information and best practices, knowledge sharing and insights into finding sustainable means of making Chennai water-positive and water secure.

A detailed compendium of the suggestions arising out of the conference will be prepared and shared with the Government and other stake holders.

The Chamber will continue to work involving the member companies of the Chamber and along with the State Government towards this mission.

NO MORE SLEEPING WITH YOUR EYES OPEN AT THE WHEEL

Scientists develop an eye-tracking technology that could help make driving safer

Researchers have developed two new applications of eye-tracking technology that could help make driving safer. “Prior to a crash, drivers can be easily distracted by an alert from a collision avoidance warning – a popular feature in new vehicles – and we feel this could be a growing problem in distraction related vehicle crashes,” said researcher June Hy up Kim, from the University of Missouri in the US. “Therefore, a two-way communication channel needs to exist between a driver and a vehicle. For instance, if a driver is aware of a possible crash, then the vehicle does not have to warn the driver as much,” Kim said. However, if a vehicle provides an alert that, by itself, creates a distraction, it could also lead to a crash, said the researcher. For the study, the researchers watched how people’s pupils changed in response to their physical reactions to a collision avoidance warning by a vehicle-assisted safety system. A person’s pupil could also help scientists find a way to decrease distracted driving crashes through a first-hand perspective into a driver’s behaviour, said the study. Using a driving simulator, the researchers evaluated a driver’s physical behavior in real-time by focusing on the driver’s eyes as the crash happened. “We saw the size of a person’s pupil changed depending on the behavioural response tom the severity of the accident,” Kim said. The study was presented at the 2019 International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics in Washington. Reproduced from Report from IEA


23

By nature, I am an optimist. Despite

geopolitical and economic challenges, I believe

the world’s best days remain ahead. Just look

right here in India. In the last decade, more

than 200 million people have been lifted out of

extreme poverty. That is a staggering

accomplishment. Throughout the country,

economic growth over such an extended period

of time has helped create greater access to

opportunity and it has shifted the way India

works, learns, communicates and connects.

But, we cannot ignore the challenges that still

lie ahead. Not everyone is benefitting or set to

benefit from this growth. A study by National

Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER),

a New Delhi based non-profit think tank of

economics, notes that 75% of businesses

globally expect the process of automation and

technological upgrading to mean that works will

be required to develop and learn new skills in

order to meet the evolving demands asked of

them by their employers.

To ensure all benefit businesses, non-profit and

government leaders need to join forces and

come together to identify, develop and scale

solutions that connect more people with

economic opportunity.

During my trip to India this week, I have had the

privilege of meeting business, government and

non-profit leaders who want to work together

to ensure more people share in India’s growth.

JP Morgan has made a commitment to help

people from around the world succeed in the

workplace of the future. We’re excited to bring

this effort to India and apply best practices of

what is working here and elsewhere.

With a $25 million commitment over the next five years, JP Morgan will help support skills and educations investments that align with the business needs of India’s growing economy. That means the young people in the country, who make up one of the largest and youngest workforce populations in the world, will be better prepared for what the jobs of the future will look like. The government of India is very focused on the issues at hand and already investing in education. Our effort will complement theirs so that there is greater access to training and education for the millions of people that need it. By understanding and anticipating the direction

of the future needs of employers and linking

this to educational resources and institutions,

we will help create opportunities for people

who may not normally have a chance, but are

eager, talented and able to develop the skills

they need to succeed ion jobs that can help

propel them forward. These education and

training efforts will align with where the jobs of

today and tomorrow in industries such as retail,

healthcare and technology are.

We also know this kind of investment can work.

It has been proven successful already as we

have seen with many non-profit organizations

which have been introducing multi-skill training

in schools, bringing job readiness to Industrial

Training Institutes, and providing college

students vocational training programmes and

technical certification courses to improve their

opportunities in the Labour market.

Vaishnavi Londhe, for example, is a young

woman who took a course in fabrication when

in school. The vocational and technical skills

THE FUTURE OF WORK

With automation and technological upgrading, workers will have to learn new skills

By: Jamie Dimon


24

provided by Lend-a-Hand India, a non-profit

organization, helped her land an internship and

eventually a job at a manufacturing workshop.

She now supports her family and is pursuing

additional studies that are better preparing her

for the skills required by the work place of the

future.

From Vaishnavi’s story of success to millions of

others like it around the world, we see our

global investments as a way to share

opportunities and success and build and

strengthen communities from the ground up.

The private sector has the ability and duty to

expand opportunity for those who need it most,

and it is a role and responsibility we should

embrace. We have seen time and time again

that when people have a fair shot and are able

to participate in and benefit from growth, the

economy is stronger and our world is a better,

healthier, safer place.

When someone has the skills to secure a well-

paying job, that helps create stronger

communities, and leads to more robust

countries and economies. That means all of us

–

-business , government and community leaders

– share a vested interest in ensuring that people

have the specific skills and knowledge necessary

to succeed in the global workforce.

Governments and businesses must work

together to ensure education and training align

with the skills needs of growing industries.

The expansion of opportunity depends on the alignment between the interests of private enterprises and the communities and countries they serve. Businesses need vibrant, prosperous societies to succeed, just as those societies need dynamic innovative businesses to create jobs and boost commercial activity. With government and private industry working

together and providing access to opportunity,

more people have more of a chance to benefit.

J P Morgan makes these kinds of investments

not just because they are good to do, but

because they are the right thing to do for our

company and for many people across the world.

The writer is the Chairman and CEO of JP

Morgan Chase & CO.

Courtesy: The Times of India 22.10.2019

REQUEST TO MEMBERS

Keeping in mind that we should start practising what we preach, your Executive Committee

is anxious to slowly restrict them printed version of our Quarterly Journal and switch over

to e-journals, thereby optimizing the resultant carbon foot prints. All the members (LIFE,

INDIVIDUAL) are requested to forward your email ids to our secretariat at your earliest

convenience.

Hon. Secretary, ENFUSE

Email: [email protected]


25

Houston: Infrared-enabled ‘smart’ light bulbs

may be used by hackers to either steal data or

spoof other connected devices on the home Wi-

Finetwork, according to Indian-origin scientists

in the US.

The researchers at the University of Texas at

San Antonio (UTSA) conducted a review of the

security holes that exist in popular smart-light

brands.

Smart lighting technology involves high

efficiency fixtures and automated controls that

make adjustments based on conditions such as

occupancy or daylight availability.

“Your smart bulb could come equipped with

infrared capabilities, and most users don’t know

that the invisible wave spectrum can be

controlled,” said Martuza Jadliwala, a professor

at UTSA.

“You can misuse those lights. Any data can be

stolen: texts or images. Anything that is stored

in a computer,” said Jadliwala.

Some smart bulbs connect to a home network

without neding a smart home hub, a centralized

hardware or software device where other

internet of things (IoT) products communicate

with each other:

Smart home hubs, which connect either locally

or to the cloud, are useful for IoT devices that

use the Zigbee or Z-Wave protocols or Blutooth,

rather than Wi-Fi, said Anindya Maiti from

UTSA, co-author of the study published in the

journal Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive,

Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies.

If these same bulbs are also infrared-enabled,

hackers can send commands via the infrared

invisible light emanated from the bulbs to

either steal data or spoof other connected IoT

devices on the home network, according to the

researchers.

The owner might not know about the hack

because the hacking commands are

communicated within the owner’s home Wi-Fi

network, without using the internet, they said.

“Think of the bulb as another computer. These

bulbs are now poised to become a much more

attractive target for exploitation even though

they have very simple chips,” said Jadliwala.

Jadliwala recommends that consumers opt for

bulbs that come with a smart home hub rather

than those that connect directly to other

devices. He also recommends that

manufacturers do a better job in developing

security measures to limit the level of access

that these bulbs have to other smart home

appliances or electronics within a home.

Courtesy: The Times of India 25th October 2019

‘SMART’ LIGHT BULBS MAY BE USED TO HACK PERSONAL INFO

REQUEST TO STUDENT MEMBERS

You may kindly note that your are receiving the soft copy of the ENFUSE Journal individually

addressed to your email. You are requested to interact with ENFUSE Secretariat with your

comments / observations / suggestions for improvements. Also, you are requested to forward your

articles for publication in the journal.

Student members who have not notified their email ids are requested to act immediately.

S RAMALINGAM President


26

Energy Needs of ‘Expensive” Desalination Limit

its Use To Affluent Nations For Now

Henry Fountain:

Desalinated seawater is the lifeblood of Saudi

Arabia, no more so than at King Abdullah

University of Science and Technology, an

international research center that rose from the

dry, empty desert a decade ago.

Produced from water from the adjacent Red

Sea that is forced through salt-separating

membranes, it is piped into the campus’

gleaming lab buildings and the shops,

restaurants and cookie-cutter homes of the

surrounding planned neighbourhoods. It

irrigates the palm trees that line the

immaculate streets and the grass field at the

5,000 seat sports stadium. Even the community

swimming pools are filled with hundreds of

thousands of gallons of it.

Desalination provides all of the university’s

fresh water; nearly 5 million gallons a day. But

that amount is just a tiny fraction of Saudi

Arabia’s total production. Beyond the walls and

security check points of the university,

desalinated water makes up about half of the

fresh water supply in this nation of 33 million

people, one of the most water starved on Earth.

Worldwide, desalination is increasingly seen as

one possible answer to problems of water

quantity and quality that will worsen with

global population growth and the extreme heat

and prolonged drought linked to climate

change.

“It is a partial solution to water scarcity,” said

Manzoor Qadir, an environmental scientist.

“This industry is going to grow. In the next five

to 10 years, you ‘ll see more and more

desalination plants.”

Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle

East and North Africa are at the center of this

growth, with large new desalination projects

planned or being built. Renewable water

supplies in most of these countries already fall

well below the United Nations definition of

absolute water scarcity, which is about 350

gallons per person per day, and a 2017 report

from the World Bank suggests that climate

change will be the biggest factor increasing the

pressure on water supplies in the future.

Yet the question remains where else

desalination will grow. “In low income

countries, almost nothing is happening,” Qadir

said.

The primary reason is cost. Desalination

remains expensive, as it requires enormous

amounts of energy. To make it more affordable

and accessible, researchers around the world

are studying how to improve desalination

processes, devising more effective and durable

membranes, for example, to produce more

water per unit of energy, and better ways to

deal with the highly concentrated brine that

remains.

Currently, desalination is largely limited to more

affluent countries, especially those with ample

fossil fuels and access to seawater (although

brackish water inland can be desalinated, too).

In addition to West Asia and North Africa,

desalination has made inroads in water-

stressed parts of the U S, notably California, and

other countries including Spain, Australia and

China.

There are environmental costs to desalination

as well: in the emissions of greenhouse gases

from the large amount of energy used, and in

the disposal of the brine, which in addition to

WORLD CAN MAKE WATER FROM SEA, BUT AT WHAT COST?


27

being salty is laced with toxic treatment

chemicals.

Despite a practically limitless supply of

seawater, desalinated water still accounts for

about 1% of the world’s fresh water.

Even in Saudi Arabia, where vast oiol reserves

(and the wealth that comes from them) have

made the country the world’s desalination

leader, responsible for about one fifth of global

production, there is a realization that the

process must be made more affordable and

sustainable. At the university here, engineers

are aiming to do just that.

“We are trying to develop new processes, to

consume less energy and be more

environmentally friendly,” said Noreddine

Ghaffour, a researcher in the Water

Desalination and Reuse Center at the university.

As the center’s name implies, there is also a

realization that treating and reusing wastewater

can help decrease stress on water supplies.

“Any place you are doing desalination you

should also be doing water reuse,” said Paul

Buijs, who serves as the contact between

researchers and industry at the center:

Courtesy: The Times of India 25th October 2019

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When someone is diagnosed with cancer; we often see the extended family pull together and get organized with incredible speed. The mami who spends the night in the hospital, the neighbor who looks after the children at home, the nephew who musters up the blood donors, nobody shirks their part-especially after multiple doctors have agreed on the diagnosis and the essential course of treatment. The doctors are agreed that saving the planet needs cutting emissions. IPCC assesses that human-induced warming reached approximately 1oC above pre-industrial levels in 2017, and it is against this backdrop that we must understand the goal of keeping global temperature increase limited to below 1.5oC by 2100. That we are currently on track for a 3.2oC to 3.9oC rise instead, indicates the scale of present failure and future threat. Overall greenhouse gas emissions are still rising, nitrous oxide has reached 123% and atmospheric methane 259% of the pre-industrial level. Helped along by how it remains in the atmosphere for centuries, carbon dioxide levels are higher than they have been in 4,00,000 years. The Anthropocene era is already experiencing a very different climate from what our ancestors knew and heading for much worse. To any alien observer our inability to pull together, to do what the doctors have prescribed, must look like the Suicide Pact of the 7 Billion. It is widely reported that the impact of the warming will fall on the poor and vulnerable, but by no means will they be the only ones with a severely stressed quality of life. If that were the case, we would have been talking about a murder pact. Sure, Dhaka is barely 4 metres above sea level with

surrounding areas being even more lo-lying, so the prospect of a 3.9oC rise gives it a sinking feeling. But this will also make a tinder box out of California and rain the fury of many Hurricane Katrinas on New Orleans and spread the wrath of heat waves through Australia and Europe. Btw in the 2003 European heat wave Paris recorded an excess death rate of 141%. There is really nowhere to run no matter how rich you are. It’s like when Delhi is in November hell and loose talk about migrating to other cities happens. As Meenaksh9 Reddy Madhavan writes, “Get out of Mumbai, see that you do, the sea is coming for me and you. Get out of Bangalore I’d recommend, before the water comes to an end. Move to Goa? It’s pretty dire, you might end up dead in a garbage fire … So get out? Why bother? Just choose your tomb.” In disparate movements like Fridays For Future and Extinction Rebellion, it is really no surprise that young people are at the forefront of protesting the current state of affairs. Consider that the children born today will actually live to see the 3.9oC nightmare, no matter how rich their country. In this sense Greta Thunberg is absolutely right, young people are bearing the brunt of leader’s failures. The adults have signed them onto the suicide pact by proxy. Of course there are also several misgivings when the Extinction Rebellion talks up drones shutting down Heathrow airport or when Thunberg’s prohibitively expensive sailing trends so much flight shaming in her country that the Swedes even coin a word for it: flygskam. It smacks of very elite Luddism. Without having met many Scandinavians I have still managed to meet a few who have travelled to 50 countries, while countless Indians have yet to come within 50 km of an aircraft.

THE CHILDREN ARE CURSING US

Can we rescue humanity from the Suicide Pact of the 7 Billion?


29

Beneath the binary surface there is actually lot of meeting ground here. This is not in turning off the twin engines of capitalism and technological progress but in a historical and scientific view of things, where the EU is responsible for 40% of cumulative emissions, the US 22% and India 2%. As the adults have lived expansively at the expense of the future generation, so the developed world has partied like no developing country now can. Those who have created the largest share of the mess must shoulder a larger burden of cleaning it. In his eye-opening book More From Less, Andres McAfee showcases how rich economies are dematerializing. In the US there is now a decreasing consumption of many things from metals to water for irrigation, and even total energy use is peaking. It is in everyone’s interest for similar decoupling between growth and consumption of Earth’s resources to take place in less rich countries too, Saving the planet needs the developed bloc to follow through on promises of meaningful assistance to the developing bloc, especially in new technologies.

Think in terms of opportunities not sacrifice, including the chance to live in a peaceful and ecologically fecund world rather than a barren one riven by infernal conflicts between the haves and have-nots. Flying itself could become greener with say synthetic jet fuels and electric planes. The Matrix was fiction. In real life AI and deep learning will help improve agriculture, weather forecasts, renewable energy management, heat mitigation et al exponentially. Profaning the gods of science and technology is the worst disservice humanity will do itself. Next only to ignoring the cry of the children. This will hurt you, no matter how high up in the clouds is your castle. In the hit teen drama 13 Reasons Why, one suicide unsettles the lives of all the persons here life touched. In the event of a mass extinction, those who survive humanity’s suicide pact will also be twisted as beyond recognition as a 3.9oC warmer Earth. Courtesy: The Times of India

INDIA JUMPS 14 PLACES TO 63RD IN EASE OF DOING BUSINESS RANKINGS

Among 10 Most Improved Nations For 3rd Yr In Row India moved from 77th to 63rd position in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings this year, a development which is expected to burnish the reform credentials of the government and help in attracting investors to Asia’s third largest economy. India’s jump of 14 ranks in a year was primarily driven by significant improvements in seven of 10 factors on which ease of doing business is measured. The country earned a place among the world’s top 10 improvers for the third consecutive year. TOI had reported on September 29 that India was among the most improved countries in the World Bank list. This is the highest improvement in rank by any large country since 2011. The P M had set a target of India being among the top 50 countries in the ease of doing business rankings by 2020 and the country has consistently improved its position over the past four years, leaping 79 places and coming within touching distance of the 50th position.


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How serious is the threat from climate change? Gail Bradbrook, who trained in molecular biophysics and later co-founded an environmental movement Extinction Rebellion, thinks it’s nothing short of an existential threat. In a conversation with Naomi Canton, she gives her reason: How did you come to start Extinction Rebellion with you co-founder Roger Hallam? Roger and I were both independently as well as other people in the UK deeply concerned about the social, economic and environmental crises that we are all facing these days. We were all independently doing research and trying to figure out how to respond and came to the conclusion that mass civil disobedience was an important part of a change process, based on historical evidence and social science. So Roger and I organized, together and with others, a series of meetings and the writing of an initial strategy to say how we might have a radical uprising in the UK with the intention of creating the changes needed. Obviously we were quickly joined by others. It was launched in October 2018 in Parliament Square in London. I am more interested in being a generalist and understanding different subjects. So, thinking about how to tackle the ecological crisis requires us to understand physical science, social science, psychology – about what enables people to get involved in this resistance, understanding the dynamics of communications and messaging. How are you funded? Crowdfunding, donations from people able to give larger amounts and grants.

What did you make of the UN climate action summit in New York in September? There were various announcements of money but there always are. You have to put these announcements that sound like significant amounts of money in context. It’s going to take nothing short of a transformation of our economy. We will only take the crisis seriously when it deeply affects all of our lives. Then we will have to start to repair the damage we have done. It will be like living through a time of war when 50% of GDP is spent on war effort. That is the kind of shift we need involving everyone. We need companies and institutions upcycling themselves into a better role that is not captured by vested interests. Humanity is facing an existential risk. What exactly is the ‘climate emergency’ you say is going to happen? To know what’s going to happen you have to look at a number of sources of information: one is the physical sciences and ecological sciences and they can make predictions. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is useful but it is usually incorrect. It’s generally much worse than what the IPPC says because it is consensus-based scientific reporting. They don’t include issues like certain tipping points you have reached. There have been five extinction events in the past, I’m not saying that it’s definitely going to happen, but you have to listen to credible commentators. It’s not just science, but also about what happens to societies when they get put under immense stress, when several food producing areas are not able to produce the food they should. Academics call it multiple breadbasket failures. They talk about potential of collapse of civilization by 2040.

‘It goes way beyond solar panels … if you take meat-eating across

the world, then that is driving deforestation in the Amazon’


31

Even relatively minor food price hikes often trigger rioting and social breakdown. There are historical examples. Is Solar power and renewable energy helpful? We can replace one technology with another thing but if you take meat-eating across the world, then that is driving deforestation in the Amazon to provide beef burgers. That has nothing to do with solar panels. It’s about how you farm. We need to take the best of our knowledge of how to work with the land to feed ourselves. It goes way beyond solar panels. Sometimes the solutions presented to combat climate change are patented technologies but poorer countries cannot afford them. Technologies are often subject to patent. This is the kind of nonsense that is at the heart of

the free market system because a lot of research is done in institutions like universities which are publicly funded and that might underpin things that get patented which is a restriction to a free market. In a wartime situation, the normal way of operating goes out the window, people need to do whatever is necessary to prevent an existential threat and that’s the situation we have to be in. Do you think India will be disproportionately affected by climate change? Absolutely. It is not just climate change. There is a biodiversity crisis, issues of water and soil fertility and pollution, there is an ecological crisis, also there i8s a health crisis and a burgeoning financial crisis. It’s on various levels. Really we need to come together and work together like never before for a paradigm shift.

TRACK LUNG DISEASE WITH A ‘SMART SHIRT’

The ‘smart shirt’ of the future could accurately measure your breathing and be used to monitor lung disease by sensing movements in the chest and abdomen. Researchers from the Radboud Univeristy Medical Centre in the Netherlands used smart shirts, together with a mobile app. To measure breathing in healthy individuals while carrying out a range of everyday activities. “Smart shirts are already available, but they tend to be used by professional or amateur sportsmen and women. We wanted to see whether a smart shirt could provide an accurate and more practical alternative for measuring lung function,” said Denise Mannee, a technical physician from the university. Combating disease The researchers can now test out the shirts with patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), COPD is a growing problem with around 64 million people suffering from the condition worldwide. The smart shirt, called the ‘Hexoskin’, senses how the fabric stretches when the wearer’s chest expands and contracts and uses these to gauge the volume of air inhaled and exhaled. It also records heart rate. Data accuracy: During the study, the team asked a group of 15 healthy volunteers to wear a smart shirt while doing everyday

activities including lying down, sitting, climbing stairs etc. In general, they found that the results were very similar. Chennai, 4th October 2019


32

HIGH LIGHTS OF OUR WORLD

Compiled by Mr. V Shriram, DGM (O), CPCL


33


34


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The Green Deal announced by the European Commission is a demonstration of European social democracy at work. A mixed economy, combining markets, government regulation, the public sector, and civil society, will pursue a mixed strategy, combining public goals, public and private investments, and public support. NEW YORK – Europe has done it. The European Green Deal announced by the European Commission is the first comprehensive plan to achieve sustainable development in any major world region. As such, it becomes a global benchmark – a “how-to” guide for planning the transformation to a prosperous, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable economy.

To be sure, the tasks confronting the European Union are daunting. Even reading the new document is daunting: a seeming welter of plans, consultations, frameworks, laws, budgets, and diplomacy, and many interconnected themes, ranging from energy to transport to food to industry.

Critics will scoff at the European bureaucracy. But this is bureaucracy in the finest Weberian sense: it is rational. The goals of sustainable development are spelled out clearly; targets are based on the time-bound goals; and processes and procedures are established in line with the targets. The overarching objectives are to reach “climate neutrality” (net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions) by 2050; a circular economy that ends the destructive pollution caused by plastics and other petrochemicals, pesticides, and other waste and toxic substances; and a “farm-to-fork” food system that neither kills people with an overly processed diet nor kills the land with unsustainable agricultural practices.

And the European Commission understands that this must be a citizen-based approach. Again, the critics will regard the talk of public consultations as naive fluff. But tell that to French President Emmanuel Macron, who has faced street riots for more than a year; or Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, whose country suddenly erupted in riots this fall after the introduction of a small increase in metro fares. Both Macron and Piñera are exemplary environmentalists. Both have committed their countries to climate neutrality by 2050. Both are urgently searching for a path of public consultations, but after the fact.

American neoliberals will scoff, too, arguing that the “market” will sort out climate change. Yet look at the United States today. If neoliberalism does for the planet what it’s done for America’s infrastructure, we’re all in big trouble. Arriving at a US airport means facing elevators, escalators, and people movers that don’t work, taxis that don’t arrive, rail links that don’t exist, and highways with broken lanes and overpasses.

The reason for this dysfunction is obvious: corruption. Each US election cycle now costs $8 billion or more, financed by billionaires, Big Oil, the military-industrial complex, the private health-care lobby, and vested interests intent on tax breaks and protecting the status quo. Market-based solutions are a sham when politics is subordinated to lobbying, as it is in the US. The European Green Deal shows government as it should be, not government subordinated to corporate interests.

Europe’s Green Deal is in fact a demonstration of successful European social democracy (in an operational rather than a narrow partisan sense). A mixed economy, combining markets, government regulation, the public sector, and

Europe’s Green Deal

Jeffrey D. Sachs | Project Syndicate

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36

civil society, will pursue a mixed strategy: public goals, public investments in infrastructure, private investments in industrial transformation, public-private research and development missions, and an informed population. In fact, it is industrial policy at its most sophisticated. (I recently outlined such a social-democratic Green New Deal strategy for the US.)

There are reasons for optimism. Most important, the advanced technologies exist, commercially or pre-commercially, to create a zero-carbon, resource-saving, environmentally sustainable advanced economy. By combining renewable energy, digital technologies, advanced materials, and a sharing economy in transport and other infrastructure, we can decarbonize the energy system, move to a circular economy, and dramatically reduce the flow of primary resources.

Yet three big challenges must be addressed. The first is to overcome status quo interests. Big Oil will have to absorb the losses, but workers and coal regions should be compensated, with income support, retraining, and other public services. Europe’s plans rightly call for a “just transition.”

The second challenge is financing. Europe, and indeed every region of the world, will have to direct an incremental 1-2% of annual output toward the green economy, including new infrastructure, public procurement, R&D, industrial retooling, and other needs. Much of this will be financed by the private sector, but much must go through government budgets. Europe will need to face down the ideologues who oppose more EU spending. Facts will need to matter.

The last big challenge is diplomatic. Europe accounts for around 9.1% of global carbon dioxide emissions, compared with 30% for China and 14% for the US. Even if Europe fully implements the Green Deal, it will be for naught

if China, the US, and other regions fail to match its efforts. European leaders therefore rightly treat diplomacy as crucial to the Green Deal’s success.

Consider China. After decades of rapid growth that has eliminated mass poverty, China has become the world’s leading emitter of CO2 (though only half of America’s emissions per person). China by itself will determine the world’s climate future. On one hand, Chinese leaders know that their country is extremely vulnerable to climate change and at risk of becoming diplomatically isolated if it fails to decarbonize. On the other hand, they are confronting the dangers of America’s misguided cold war. Government hardliners and China’s coal lobby are resisting decarbonization in the midst of US pressures, especially since Trump himself is rejecting decarbonization. European diplomacy can make the difference if it refuses to go along with America’s insidious efforts to contain China, and instead offers China a clear and positive partnership: working together on sustainable Eurasian infrastructure, development, and technology, in the context of a Chinese Green Deal alongside Europe’s. Such a partnership would hugely benefit Europe, China, and the dozens of Eurasian countries in between, and indeed the entire world.

Europe has made a historic breakthrough with its ambitious, challenging, and feasible plan. The Green Deal is a powerful beacon of hope in a world of confusion and instability.

For further information: https://www.project-

syndicate.org/commentary/europe-green-deal-is-global-beacon-by-jeffrey-d-sachs-2019-12

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When people talk about “precious metals,” they're generally referring to four chemically similar elements on the periodic table: gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. These are elements that, in their metallic forms, have served a dual function in society:

1. As money and/or wealth storage

2. As critical industrial components

As a result, these metals have become fashionable as jewelry. Gold is the most well known as a precious metal. It has been used as money and wealth storage (and jewelry) for thousands of years. Less known, though, are gold's manufacturing applications. Gold is very soft and easy to work with, can be easily alloyed with other metals, and is a great electrical conductor and heat shield.

Platinum and palladium, on the other hand, are less known as precious metals. That's because, relative to gold, these metals have only recently become wealth storage vehicles. Platinum, for example, wasn't used in coinage until the 16th century — and even then, it was used as a cheaper substitute for silver. Today, both metals are critical components for transportation due to their catalytic properties. Palladium, for instance, can absorb up to 900 times its own volume in hydrogen. This has made it and platinum vital for the manufacturing of catalytic converters.

Through the centuries, both platinum and palladium became standardized substitutes for gold and silver as wealth storage vehicles. Platinum and palladium coins were experimented with in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it wasn't until the 1980s that government mints began regularly issued platinum and palladium bullion.

$200 Oil Is Only Months Away... A $10,000

Investment Could Return $104,000

The International Maritime Organization has capped the sulfur content of global shipping fuel. Old fuel with 3.5% sulfur fuel will be outlawed. The new fuel has 0.5% sulfur, but there isn’t enough of it, and prices are moving up fast. There will be a million-barrel-a-day shortfall starting on January 1, 2020. But you must act today while there is still big money to be made. It’s called the "IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap" and you must act now.

Precious Metals of the Future

It's clear that what we consider a “precious metal” is not static. Our wealth storage and industrial needs are always changing. So I don't think it's much of a stretch to imagine there will be other metals we might consider “precious” — or at least more precious — in the future. The most obvious contenders right now seem to be lithium and cobalt due to the demand for them in electric vehicles. But both are very common. Lithium and cobalt are the 25th and 23rd most abundant elements on the planet,

PRECIOUS METAL OF THE FUTURE

By

Luke Burgess, Editor at Energy & Capital

(Reproduced from the Market Research Report)


38

respectively. And one key characteristic of a “precious metal” is rarity. Yet crustal abundance is only one factor that goes into our ability to access any resource. More often than not these days, geopolitics is the deciding factor.

Cobalt Supply Problems

The demand for electric vehicles is still set to absolutely explode over the next several years. The IEA estimates the global electric vehicle stock will increase from 2 million in 2016 to between 40 million and 70 million by 2025. Its low projection is a 20-fold increase in demand over 10 years.

And I'm sure you know EVs depend on lithium-

ion batteries to store their energy.

But the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles aren't simply hunks of lithium with terminals. There are other key metals required to produce rechargeable EV batteries that are often overlooked.

Take a look at the word “lithium-ion” for a

moment...

The “lithium” part is obvious. But have you ever wondered what the “-ion” of “lithium-ion” is? Well, it's basically cobalt

Well, it's basically cobalt.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are actually named for their active ingredients. Inside each is a lithium compound that acts as the battery's cathode material. The most common lithium compound used today is lithium cobalt oxide, or LiCoO2.

Stay with me here... The cobalt in a LiCoO2 battery is the main active ingredient and allows for the ionic movement that enables the recharging process. In other words, it's the cobalt in a rechargeable Li-cobalt battery that makes the battery rechargeable. Battery chemists also use other metals such as manganese and nickel to make compounds that serve the same purpose. However, lithium cobalt oxide remains the preferred compound today. Roughly three out of every four lithium-ion EV batteries contain cobalt... a lot of it. On average, a single lithium-ion EV battery contains over 30 pounds of cobalt. And with conservative projections of a 20-fold increase in global EV demand, forecasts show a whopping 4,500% surge in demand for cobalt between now and 2030.

The coming surge in demand has sent auto manufacturers scrambling to secure resources. But they've all run into a major supply hurdle.


39

As I mentioned in my previous report to you, the best place in the world to mine the cobalt metal is the worst place in the world to mine anything: the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over half of the world's cobalt resources are located in the DRC. And currently, the DRC accounts for over 50% of global production of cobalt. But the country hosts a mountain of issues that constantly threaten stable mining output. Geopolitical instability and corruption are commonplace. And key cobalt mines are frequently shut down. But now the DRC cobalt industry is also under harsh scrutiny for child labor and human rights violations. According to UNICEF, as many as 40,000 children were working in mines across southern DRC in 2014. It's a mess. Due to its critical use in future transportation and the geopolitical nightmare that holds up half the entire world's resources, cobalt might be considered more precious in the future.

However, simply due to the fact that the DRC holds half the world's resources, it's very unlikely governments will be issuing cobalt bullion anytime soon. Still, for investors, cobalt should be a precious metal. Nothing is going to stop the electric vehicle revolution. Stay long cobalt

Until next time,

Luke Burgess

As an editor at Energy and Capital, Luke’s analysis and market research reach hundreds of thousands of investors every day. Luke is also a contributing editor of Angel Publishing’s Bubble and Bust Report newsletter. There, he helps investors in leveraging the future supply-demand imbalance that he believes could be key to a cyclical upswing in the hard asset markets.

CO2 FACT FILE

• Every year, global emissions from textile production are equivalent 1.2 billion of

CO2, a figure that outweighs the carbon footprint of international flights and

shipping combined.

• The proportion of synthetic fibres, such as polyester, in our garments, has

doubled since 2000, rising to 60% in 2019. These fibres are produced from oil.

• Polyester is the most popular fabric used for fashion. When polyester garments

ar washed in washing machines, they shed microfibers that add to the rising levels

of plastic in oceans.


40

The UN Climate Change - Conference COP 25 –had taken place in Madrid, Spain from 2 to 13 December 2019. Countries had negotiations on more ambitious plans to limit global warming to 1.5oC, in line with the Paris Agreement.nce

Nearly 27,000 delegates arrived in the Spanish capital in early December aiming to finalize the “rulebook” of the Paris Agreement – the operating manual needed when it takes effect in 2020 – by settling on rules for carbon markets and other forms of international cooperation under “Article 6” of the deal..

Following two weeks of negotiations, UN Climate Change Conference – COP25 has been concluded . Unfortunately Governments have failed to respond to the emergency of the climate crisis as the talks fell victim to major differences between countries that are proving. The UNFCCC released thenew negotiating texts . On first analysis, observers complained that the text was weak on ambition. One said: “I didn’t think the Presidency could make the text any weaker – but they did.” Observers of the summit in Madrid held G20 countries – especially with the US, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia – and major oil, gas and coal companies responsible for undermining the climate ambition and blocking the progress for better response to this global challenge. Canada, Japan, China and India were also faulted for their complacency as they failed to support vulnerable nations in the face of brutal impacts and push for a more robust collective response in 2020. The EU tried to play its role as bridge-builder between developing and developed countries. However, it will take a

major diplomatic push and bigger leadership alliance to deliver substantial outcomes at COP26 in Glasgow. COP25’s final decision text “re-emphasizes with serious concern the urgent need to address the significant gap between the aggregate effect of Parties’ mitigation efforts in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 (…)”, at the same time that it “stresses the urgency of enhanced ambition in order to ensure the highest possible mitigation and adaptation efforts by all Parties.” Despite this, the text is generally very circular (i.e. no clear one-sentence statement “in light of climate urgency encourages parties to submit enhanced NDCs in 2020”). Carbon markets: Negotiators failed to reach an outcome on carbon markets. In the final hours of negotiations, over 30 governments joined behind the San Jose Principles in an effort to preserve the integrity of carbon market rules and prevent loopholes and the ability for double-counting carbon credits. Santiago network established to lead more work on implementation to minimize, avoid and recover from loss and damage. However, the final text is weaker than the previous version. In term of finance, it “urges” scale up of support by developed countries and other Parties in a position to do so, as well as private and non-governmental organizations, funds and other stakeholders; but then only invites the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board to continue providing resources for loss and damage, and invites it to take into account, within its mandate, the

Conference of the Parties COP 25

https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cp2019__L10E_adv.pdf

https://cambioclimatico.go.cr/press-release-leading-countries-set-benchmark-for-carbon-markets-with-san-jose-principles/


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strategic work streams of the WIM Executive Committee. Oceans & Land

This disconnect was highlighted by a huge protest march through the heart of the Spanish capital and by the presence of climate activist Greta Thunberg, who arrived just in time to make several high profile appearances in COP25 Conference Hall .

Ultimately, however, the talks were unable to reach consensus in many areas, pushing decisions into next year under “Rule 16” of the UN climate process. Matters including Article 6, reporting requirements for transparency and “common timeframes” for climate pledges were

all punted into 2020, when countries are also due to raise the ambition of their efforts.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said he was “disappointed” with the results COP25 and that “the international community lost an important opportunity to show increased ambition on mitigation, adaptation & finance to tackle the climate crisis.”

Although the world’s major emitters were never expected to announce fresh climate pledges at COP25, there was still hope that they might collectively send a strong message of intent for next year. However, talks quickly became bogged down in technical issues, such as the rules for carbon market mechanisms, which have eluded completion for years.

(News Report reproduced)

FOR THE VULNERABLE, UN CLIMATE TALKS ARE NO LONGER FIT

FOR PURPOSE

Observation by Mr Saleemul Huq

Comment:

I have been to all 25 UN cl;imte conferences. I won’t be attending next year unless major changes

are made to achieve real action.

Having just returned home from my 25th consecutive UN climate talks in Madrid, I am now

prepared to declare the decision making process in these annual jamborees is no longer fit for

purpose.

Let me explain why

COP25 was the longest COP ever, having gone on for two extra days (and nights) beyond the

originally planned twelve days.

This tendency, now standard practice at COOPs to take the negotiations into overtime for a day or

more is not only extremely inefficient but is also deeply unfair to the most vulnerable developing

countries whose delegates cannot stay on. Thus the decisions made in the last hours of extra time

are invariably detrimental to their interests and by the time they get home and see the final text

they see their words have disappeared.

Reproduced –from Climate Home News


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OFFICE-BEARERS ADDRESS 2019 – 20

1. Mr. S RAMALINGAM, CMD, CPCL (Retd.), Anand Apartments, 262/11 Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, CHENNAI 600 010 Email: [email protected]/[email protected]

National President

96770 11766

2. Mr. S SAKTHIVEL, Director of Boilers,(Retd) Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Vice President – HQ

94431 49993

3. Mr. RAMNATH S MANI, Managing Director Automation Excellence Pvt. Ltd.New 27, Old 14, Josier Street,2nd. Floor, Nungambakkam,CHENNAI – 600034 Email: [email protected]

Vice President – Southern Region

044-28266227

98400 62118

4. Dr. K MAMALLAN, Manager (ISO-SHEQ), CPCL, Manali, CHENNAI 600 068 Email: [email protected]

Secretary

044-25944181 9444307980

5. Mr. K SADASIVA CHETTY, E D, (Corporate Planning) CPCL (Retd) G-4,Ground Floor, Kala Flats, New No.15 Kamatchipuram 2nd St, W.Mambalam, CHENNAI 600 033 Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Treasurer

98410 46289

6. Mr. S JEYARAM, New No. 34 Mannaar Second Street, NerkundrumPathai, Vadapalani, CHENNAI 600 026 Email: [email protected]

Joint Secretary

97910 20132

7. MR. S R PRADHISH KUMAAR No.4 NSK St., Eswaran Nagar, Pammal, CHENNAI 600 075

Email: [email protected]

Joint Secretary

99401 50530

8. Mr. MADHAVAN NAMPOOTHIRI, No.7 MalleeswararKoilSt.,Mylapore, CHENNAI 600 004 Email: [email protected]

ENFUSE Journal Editor

8939724520

9. Mr. R RAJU PANDI Flat No. 9, 3rd Floor, Hemamanor, 23 Branson Garden St., Kelly's, CHENNAI 600 010 Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Chairman – Power Generation Sector

94449 22954

10. Dr. A. PEERFATHIMA, Professor & Dean, School of Electrical Engg (SELECT), VIT- Chennai, Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, CHENNAI – 600 127. Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Chairman – Academic Interface

9444022777 /

9551399340

11. Mr. G THANGARAJ, Asst. V P, Shaw Wallace & Co. Ltd (Retd) 81 South West Boag Road, T Nagar CHENNAI 600 017 Email: [email protected]

Past President Chairman – Rural Energy

98402 61978

12. Mr. S VISVESWARAN, 2A, Santosa Flats, 197 RamasamiSalai, K K Nagar, CHENNAI . 600 078 [email protected]

Chairman – New Renewable Energy

94443 90030

13. Mr. V SRIRAM VISHWANATHAN, Deputy General Manager – (O) C P CL, Manali, Chennai 600 068 [email protected]

Chairman – Sustainability Initiatives

98843 81171 /

25944306

ENERGY & FUEL USERS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA

mailto:[email protected]/


mailto:[email protected]/
















43

14. Dr. D. ANANTHANARAYANAN, Manager (P&A),(Retd.) Chennai Petroleum Corpn Ltd, Cauvery Basin Refinery, Panangudi, NannilamTaluk, NAGAPATTINAM 611 002

Coordinator – Narimanam Region

04365 - 256403 94430 71432

15. Mr. G L SRINIVASAN, G M (Corporate Planning), CPCL (Retd) 3rd Floor, Trinity House, No.18/11, 4th Street Thirumurthy Nagar, Nungambakkam, CHENNAI 600034 Email: [email protected]

Immediate Past President – Member

94449 07738 2827 7738

16. Mr. T DORAIVEL No.5 First St., East Abhiramapuram, CHENNAI 600 004 Email: [email protected]

Member

94441 85424

17 CAPT. DINESH T S R, No.4 NSK St., Eswaran Nagar, Pammal, CHENNAI 600 075 Email:[email protected]

Member

98842 03213

18. Mr. K R GOVINDAN No.22 Janakiram St., West Mambalam, CHENNAI 600 033 Email: [email protected]

Member

94443 82649

19. Mr. GANESAN, Director of Boilers, Chennai Circle, First Floor, (North Wing), PWD Office Compound, Chepauk, Chennai – 5.

Member

20. Mr. S PANDARINATHAN, G M (Dev), CPCL (Retd), #7, Nathamuni 2nd Cross Street Naduvankarai, Anna Nagar CHENNAI 600 040 Email: [email protected]

Member

94443 90012

21. Mr. A RAJENTHRAN Block No.C1, Pranavam Apartments, Plot No.3, Kamadhenu 2nd St. Mogappair East, CHENNAI 600 037 Email: [email protected]

Member

044-26564181

94441 45833

22. CAPT M SINGARAJA Ratnabala Designs & Consultants, New No.90 Rama Naicken St., Nungambakkam, CHENNAI 600 034. Email: [email protected]

Member

94441 27704

23. Mr. J SIVA, Managing Director, Jegan Research Associates Pvt Ltd, No.1 Valluvarkottam High Road, Rashmi Towers, 3rd Floor, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034 Email:[email protected]

Member

044–4211 1932 94431 38523

24. Mrs. S SUJATHA MUKUNDAN, Director, Servals Automation (P) Ltd 51/1 Justice Ramaswamy Street ,Venkatarathinam Nagar Adyar, CHENNAI 600 020 [email protected]

Member

044 - 42629399 9600109777

25. Mr. S SENTHILMURUGAN, Asst. Professor/EEE, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai 603 203 Email: [email protected]

Member

98942 96319









44

THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

&

THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

WISH THE MEMBERS

OF

ENERGY & FUEL USERS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA

A

PROSPEROUS

&

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020

Seasons’ Greetings

&

Best Wishes

S RAMALINGAM

National President

enfuseenfuse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/october-december...2020/10/01 · energy & fuel...

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