IIT-H researchers suggest earth’s heat for power

HYDERABAD: The use of earth’s heat to generate power is better than the photovoltaic energy that is used by current technologies, suggested an extensive analysis of green alternatives to reduce carbon (CO2) emissions by the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad and

Monash University

, Australia.

Researchers suggested that in this era of dwindling fossil fuel reserves and increasing

greenhouse gas

emissions, a combination of renewable energy technologies must be adopted.

The analysis, undertaken by Prof D Chandrasekharam, department of civil engineering, IIT-H and Prof G Ranjit-h Pathegama, department of civil engineering, Monash University, Melbourne involved lifecycle assessment of renewables. They analyzed the life cycle assessment of solar cell technology in terms of the environmental impact during construction, operation and decommissioning stages.

“Unlike other renewables,

geothermal energy

can supply base-load electricity and the waste product after its life cycle, unlike solar PV, is negligible,” stated the researchers.