Advanced Nanomaterials for Clean Energy and Health Applications
HVL for the first time provides funding for idea development for innovation projects proposed by staff and students. A new type of energy storage proposed by the ANCEHA research group was among the projects to receive funding in 2022.
For more information, please visit https://www.hvl.no/aktuelt/
Trond Mohn has been supporting HVL for many years in research and education. On 10 June 2022, he visited HVL to see for himself the progress made in education, research, and interactive learning for which he has been generously supporting by providing funds. He also dropped by the ANCEHA research lab, the development of which too received his generous support. He was able to witness the ongoing projects on solar cell applications, hydrogen applications, energy storage and biomedical applications. For more details of his visit, please visit https://www.hvl.no/aktuelt/
A delegation comprising of representatives from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-Dir) and the University of Basel, Switzerland visited the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) on 02 June 2022 to learn, exchange and discuss project activities related to innovation, entrepreneurship and ongoing international projects. The delegation included Ingvild Hope, Head – NORPART program, Benedikte Vardøy, Advisor – NORPART program and Erich Thaler, Head of International Relations – University of Basel, Switzerland. They met with the representatives from HVL including Elin Kvale, Deputy Director – Research, Internationalization and Innovation (RII), Maren Stallemo, Senior Advisor – RII, Cathrine Palmstrøm, Advisor – RII, Marit Schulstad Wasa, Erasmus Coordinator – RII and Dhayalan Velauthapillai, Professor – Department of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.
After the meeting the members of the delegation also visited the clean energy research lab at HVL where the students from Norway, Sri Lanka and India demonstrated their ongoing research activities on materials and technologies for hydrogen production through water splitting, perovskite solar cell, super capacitor, luminescent solar concentrator, dye sensitized solar cells and simulation.
On 19 May 2022 Fionn Iversen, Centre Leader – HyValue FME visited the ANCEHA research lab at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). He is also the Chief Scientist at NORCE Energy engaged in research related to geothermal energy and energy systems, Hydrogen value chain, flow modelling and drilling process.
During his visit to the ANCEHA research lab, he met with researchers from Norway, Sri Lanka and India. They held discussions about their working projects on materials and technologies and the researchers seized these opportunities to demonstrate their ongoing research on hydrogen production through both electro-chemical and photocatalytic water splitting, perovskite solar cells and super-capacitor, luminescent solar concentrator, dye-sensitized solar cells and simulation.
A new collaborative project on Higher Education and Research in Nanomaterials for Clean Energy Technologies (HRNCET-2.0) between the University of Jaffna (UoJ) and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) was launched on 06-04-2022 at the UoJ auditorium. The HRNCET 2.0 is the second phase/extension of the HRNCET project that was initially awarded in 2017 by the Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (NORPART). The main objective of the HRNCET 2.0 is to enhance the existing collaboration on research for a PhD programme, and to increase the engagement of the private sector industry partners from both countries in clean energy technologies.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka HE Trine Jøranli Eskedal was the Chief Guest of the inaugural ceremony which commenced with the arrival of a delegation from Norway consisting of academics and researchers from HVL and University of Bergen (UiB) as well as Norwegian industrial partners.
Prof. Punniamoorthy Ravirajan, UoJ Coordinator of the HRNCET project while welcoming the guests, also shared the achievements the HRNCET-1 project has accomplished so far. He said that the first phase focused on (a) the dissemination of knowledge through teaching and curriculum development, (b) exchange of knowledge through student exchange, research stays and participation in international conferences in both countries, (c) carrying out outreach activities for community empowerment, and (d) the introduction of floating solar plant to the nation in general through this project. He also added that while the project commenced primarily focusing on the Science of clean energy technologies initially it also gradually moved into the designing and engineering of the technologies.
Addressing the gathering Prof. Dhayalan Velauthapillai, HVL Coordinator of the HRNCET project said that the HRNCET-2 phase of the project will be moving up to the level of PhD programmes in collaboration with the UiB. This initiative will increase opportunities for collaborations with the industrial partners which is crucial for the country to move towards low carbon solutions. The new programme will also focus on Hydrogen technologies. He went on to say that the programme will also include an extension of the activities from the first phase and will incorporate skills development, innovation and research (being the key to broader institutional and industrial networks), and engaging in feasibility studies.
The Vice-Chancellor, UoJ addressing the gathering thanked the engaged universities and the donors for a successful collaboration. Prof. A. Atputharajah elaborated on the progress and challenges of the first floating solar power plant installed at the UoJ Kilinochchi premises and Dr K Ahilan briefly described the first Master Programme on Clean Energy Technologies carried out by the UoJ.
Prof. Øyvind Frette from UiB and Prof. Lise Bjørkhaug Gundersen from HVL also addressed the gathering and congratulated all those involved in the project for the successful implementation of the project.
The Vice-Rector for Research at HVL, Gro Anita Fonnes Flaten addressed the gathering digitally stressing the need for increasing collaboration through higher education institutions as they play a vital role in achieving the sustainable development goals.
The event concluded with the signing of a tripartite agreement between the UiB, HVL and UoJ.
The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, along with the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and the University of Jaffna, yesterday organised a seminar titled “Towards a clean and sustainable energy era: opportunities to meet the energy demand in Sri Lanka” at the Galle Face Hotel. The purpose of the seminar was to bring together expertise from the private sector, academia, donor community, and relevant agencies to discuss ways to improve the production and supply of renewable energy in Sri Lanka.Speaking at the event, Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal noted that Sri Lanka has agreed to ambitious renewable electricity generation targets by 2050. As the country moves towards this goal, she said it will be important to create an appropriate policy environment, develop innovative financial models and initiate new practices to attract more investment into the sector, especially from the private sector. There will also need to be more space and opportunities created for research, piloting of new inventions, and most importantly, consultation and collaboration between all stakeholders. It is essential that government, academia, and the private sector work together to achieve this goal. She added that Norway is a country with a very high share of renewable energy and is committed to supporting Sri Lanka achieve its renewable energy goals. Speaking on how Sri Lanka could transition to an era of clean energy and how Norwegian companies and universities could contribute, Prof. Dhayalan Velauthapillai, of HVL pointed out that Universities and the private sector from Norway in partnership with Sri Lankan counterparts can contribute positively to tackling the energy demand in Sri Lanka. The Norwegian-funded Floating Solar Plant in Kilinochchi is such an example. Dr. Vidhura Ralapanawa, a Specialist in sustainability and clean energy pointed out that “As the climate crisis creates havoc in the natural systems, rapid decarbonisation has become the challenge of our lifetime. “This also gives an opportunity to reimagine our energy systems for the future. With abundant renewable energy resources, Sri Lanka should be at the forefront of this transformation.”
Current Solar AS CEO Inge Vikesdal spoke on the many possibilities with solar in Sri Lanka while Sturle Pedersen, of Greenstat AS, explained the potential of establishing hydrogen solutions in Sri Lanka. Greenstat has signed an agreement with the Sri Lanka Petroleum Development Authority in March, to collaborate on a pilot project for generating green hydrogen in Sri Lanka.The panelists also included University of Jaffna Prof. Arulampalam Atputharajah, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Chairman Ranjith Sepala, and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) General Manager Dr. Narendra De Silva.
Source – Daily FT
The Norwegian climate festival Varmere, Våtere, Villere took place in Bergen from 9 – 11 March 2022. This climate festival was an arena for students, researchers, business leaders, politicians, and entrepreneurs to meet, discuss, share, debate and engage in knowledge, opinions, challenges and ideas related to climate crisis. The event featured presentations, debates, podcasts, discussions, exhibitions and concerts on topics related to global issues and also the everyday actions needed to combat climate crisis.
The technology grand prix highlighting future technological breakthroughs took place on 10 March 2022 at the Cultural House in Bergen. A number of researchers presented diverse technologies as possible future alternative options for dealing with climate changes. Dhayalan Velauthapillai, Professor – HVL, Hans Kleivdal, Executive Vice President – NORCE, and Fride Vullum-Bruer –Researcher, SINTEF introduced different technologies followed by a discussion around those technologies facilitated by Hilde Holdhus, Partner-Sarsia Seeds.
On 11 March 2022, Professor Dhayalan Velauthapillai also presented a talk on the myths and facts about the otential of solar energy. Also, on this day the students of the ANCEHA research group displayed their experimental works on emerging solar cells, hydrogen production through water splitting, and energy storage devices and explained their works to the visitors and guests. Nanthini Nagarajah of the ANCEHA presented a résumé on her research work highlighting the relevance of the so far underappreciated diaspora informal networks for sustainability transitions, in particular their relevance for developing countries.
Two Indian students have been undergoing research training at HVL. Swathi Srinivasan and Balaji Varadharajan from the Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi arrived on 11 th of March 2022. They are conducting research at HVL under Professor Dhayalan Velauthapillai in the field of Water splitting and Supercapacitor.
On 02 February 2022, Sveinung Rotevatn, Member of the Norwegian Parliament visited Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and the Advanced Nanomaterials for Clean Energy and Health Applications (ANCEHA) research lab. Sveinung Rotevatn was also the former Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway.
Three Sri Lankan students have been undergoing research training at HVL. Thivakarasarma Thuraisamykurukkal, Gnanasampanthan Abiram and Velu Aeneas Jerron from the Department of Physics, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka arrived on 30 th of January 2022. They are conducting research at HVL under Professor Dhayalan Velauthapillai.
