News – Page 5 – ANCEHA.NO

Nov 22

ANCEHA receives a new NORPART project funding from HK-Dir

We, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), are delighted to announce that we are awarded a new NORPART project funding by Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-Dir) for another five years from 2022 to 2026 with our partners, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. University of Bergen, University of Peradeniya (SL), National Insititute of Fundemental Studies (NIFS, SL) and industrial partners from Norway and Sri Lanka are active collaborators in this project on Advanced Nanomaterials for Clean Energy Technologies. This is the second NORPART project awarded to us by HK-Dir. Aim of the project is to develop efficient and affordable clean energy solutions for all.

The funding will be primarily used for joint research, industrial collaboration and mobility of students/staff between the partner institutions. Large number of Master and PhD students from Norway and Sri Lanka will have research stays at Universities in both countries. Number of students from SL will also be awarded full-degree Master scholarships at HVL and UiB in Norway through this project. This project will help the partners to enhance the research and higher education collaboration to new hights! Thanks to HKDir and all the partners! Special thanks go also to the Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka for providing funding for another capacity building project since 2017.

Får millioner til å videreføre utdanningssamarbeid på Sri Lanka

Sep 24

Research Days 2021- Forskningsdagene 2021

‘Research Days 2021’ in Bergen was celebrated from 22nd September to 3rd October 2021 starting with school visits on 22-24 September 2021. This year the researchers from different universities in Bergen visited schools. The ANCEHA researchers based at HVL, Bergen visited Rå Skole and Apeltun Skole, Bergen on 22nd and 24th September 2021 and demonstrated emerging solutions on energy production and energy storage based on their research findings. The demonstration was titled “How should we solve energy crisis?”

On 01 October 2021, the Researcher Grand Prix was held where 10 researchers were given four minutes to pitch their research in front of 200 guests before three were voted through to the final. Håkon Eidsvåg, PhD research fellow at HVL and from the ANCEHA research group participated in this Prix and pitched his research. His research focuses on green hydrogen production which can be used as fuel in cars, ships, buses, planes or replace oil, gas and coal in industry. This method involves using materials which when immersed in water creates hydrogen by using the incoming solar light to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

Apr 28

Solenergi og nanopartikler, nye muligheter

Vanligvis snakker vi om solenergi og mener energi fra solcellepaneler basert på silisum. Av og til snakker vi om solenergi som solvarme.

Men denne gangen snakker vi om solenergi på flere andre måter, Grätzel-celler, eller såkalte dye-sensitized solar cells. Vi får også høre om solfangere med nanopartikler for mindre varmetap, og hydrogenproduksjon der sol-lys produserer hydrogen direkte, med nano-partikler.

HVL har også en solenergilab i Bergen, der man kan hente konkret erfaringsdata for solenergiinnstråling, og produksjon, både til solceller og solfangere.
Dette får du høre om i podcastepisoden med professor Boris Balakin (Institutt for maskin- og marinfag) og professor Dhayalan Velauthapillai (Institutt for datateknologi, elektroteknologi og realfag) ved Høgskulen på Vestlandet, HVL.

Takk: https://solenergiklyngen.no/

Mar 23

ANCEHA research scholars at International Chemistry Webinar-2021

Arumugam Pirashanthan, Kajana Thirunavukarasu and Shanmugaratnam Sivagowri from University of Jaffna who are currently attached to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences under the NORPART mobilty program attended “International Webinar on Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry” held on 12th March 2021 conducted by Scientific Meditech, London. Research scholars are also attached to the CBERC project funded by the Royal Nowegian Embassy, Sri Lanka. Miss. Kajana Thirunavukarasu had an oral presentation on her research findings entitled “A Novel Heterostructured Ag2CrO4: SnS Nanomaterial for Energy Conversion & Storage”.

Mar 18

Successfully completes MPhil

Siva Uthayaraj was awarded a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Physics in 2017 under the HRNCET project funded by NORPART. His research focused on synthesis, fabrication and characterization of perovskite solar cells with particular emphasis on the incorporation of carbonaceous materials in perovskite solar cells to improve its performances and device stability.

During his study period, he had visited the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences twice for research stays of six months each. These visits gave him the opportunity to carry out several research activities including fabrication of perovskite solar cells with advanced sophisticated research equipment and characterization of devices and thin films using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), UV-VIS spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and photovoltaic measurements. He has also participated in seminar and workshop learning activities on Nano materials for Clean Energy and Health Applications held at Coimbatore Institute of Technologies (CIT), India in 2020. These opportunities has led him to meet several like-minded researchers enabling him to learn new techniques and improve his research skills.

Siva Uthayaraj successfully completed his MPhil in 2020. His thesis is titled ‘Enhancement in the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells by Incorporation of Carbon Nanotubes’.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the HRNCET/NORPART project for providing me with the research grant and the chance to carry out my MPhil study. During this period, I had the opportunity to visit HVL twice for my research stays, where I was able to work on synthesis, fabrication and characterization of perovskite solar cells with advanced equipment.

This was a completely new experience for me not only academically, but also the experience of being in a new country with amazing cold weather. The ice-skating and the interaction with friendly Norwegians are somethings I would cherish.”

Mar 10

Midterm evaluation of Gz. MeeNilankco Theiventhran

On Tuesday the 9th of March, our PhD research fellow Gz. MeeNilankco Theiventhan had his midterm evaluation at the University of Oslo digitally. The evaluation started with a presentation by MeeNilankco, he presented his paper titled “Titanic encounters: Energy as a geopolitical battleground in Sri Lanka”. After the presentation, Prof. David Jordhus-Lier (UiO), as the reviewer and evaluator, shared his comments on the paper and progress plan. A useful discussion followed where MeeNilankco’s supervisors’ also contributed to the discussion.

Feb 25

Research stays at HVL for students from Sri Lanka and India

Six students have arrived at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) from Sri Lanka and India for six-month research stays funded by the “student mobility program” of NORPART and UTFORSK respectively. The first batch of students arrived in November 2020 and the second batch in January 2021.One of these visiting scholars has completed his PhD and is a visiting researcher, two are PhD students and three nearing completion of their Masters. While some have previously visited HVL for research, for two students this visit is their very first overseas experience.

During their stay the students will get to work with different sophisticated instruments and equipment gaining practical experience on their use in different fields related to clean energy applications such as emerging solar cell technologies, hydrogen and energy storage.

Asaithambi

“I extend my sincere gratitude to HVL for not only the opportunity given to us but also to the extra care and efforts extended during our travel and arrival to Bergen with the prevailing pandemic situation.

The laboratory at HVL gives me great confidence to test my research skills. The beautiful Bergen with cold weather is a totally new experience for me. I am confident that this research stay will not only enlighten my academic career but will also provide me with many life experiences”.

Asaithambi Sankaiya – Alagappa University, India.

Isacfranklin

“Like many Indian students, it is a dream come true for me to come and work in a university in a European country. It has given me a new platform to work and develop my novel ideas.

Apart from my research work, life’s new experience from living in a new environment, meeting new people from different backgrounds and culture has been profound. I thank HVL for giving me this great opportunity”.

Isacfranklin Melkiyur- Alagappa University, India

Feb 12

The first ANCEHA research group seminar 2021

The first seminar of the ANCEHA research group was held on 12/02/2021. Associate Professor Dr. Bentouba Said presented the topic of the seminar, which was on Renewable energies, research development, challenges and opportunities.

Further to the seminar, the research group also discussed possible new expansion and collaboration on hydrogen production. Currently the ANCEHA research group is focusing on hydrogen related research in collaboration with research institutes in India. This collaborative research includes hydrogen production from salt water. Currently two students from Alahappa University, India are at HVL for their experiments and research stays related to this collaborative research. The ANCEHA research group will be focusing on similar research expansion in Sri Lanka in the near future.

HVL is currently upgrading its laboratory facilities for the clean energy technologies, which are intended to cater to the advancing of clean energy technological research carried out by the research group comprising of students from HVL and collaborating universities in India and Sri Lanka.

Oct 25

Floating solar research lab – a collaborative project between Norway and Sri Lanka

Floating solar panels for clean energy production is considered to be another promising route for Sri Lanka on its journey towards achieving renewable energy targets in view of its vast number of existing natural and man-made water bodies.

As yet another collaborative initiative between Norway and Sri Lanka, the Ambassador to Norway in Sri Lanka, HE Trine Jøranli Eskedal, declared opened the first floating solar power plant on 24 January, 2020 as an introductory step to be used as a floating research lab as well as an information sharing base including being an educational exhibit to encourage and enthuse the native population at large towards transitioning to clean energy. Reflecting the collaborative project work between the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, this first floating solar panel was launched in the premises of the University of Jaffna, Kilinochchi campus.

The 42 kW energy produced by this exhibition plant will partly electrify the university premises in this campus. The project was made possible with the support of Innovation Norway and the Norwegian energy group Equinor. The floating solar plant was designed and developed by Current Solar
AS, a Norwegian solar developer. This particular design is based on Norwegian marine knowhow from offshore and aquaculture industries and innovatively combines the use of composite beams for mounting the solar panels.

On her visit, the Ambassador also inspected the Clean Energy Research Lab at the University of Jaffna which was also assisted by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka to promote research on clean energy technologies.

Oct 21

An expert panel discussion on ‘A New Decade: Investing in Clean Energy in Sri Lanka – Drivers and Barriers’

The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka together with the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences hosted an expert panel discussion on 21 January, 2020 under the title ‘A New Decade: Investing in Clean Energy in Sri Lanka – Drivers and Barriers’. The conference was held at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka. This conference brought together several key actors, stakeholders and experts from the Sri Lankan clean energy sector as well as a delegation from Norway for the panel discussion.

Sri Lanka is a signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement and shares the vision and commitment to achieving carbon neutral status by 2050. The sustainable way of progressing towards achieving this commitment is through investing in clean energy technologies to tackle future energy demands while also reducing the emissions. Collaborations between governments, private sector, researchers and higher education institutions are therefore crucial for such endeavour. In this regard, Norway and Sri Lanka have partnered and are laying greater emphasis on collaborating on clean energy technologies. This partnership in research, development and investments in clean energy between Norway and Sri Lanka resulted in the establishment of a clean energy consortium in 2018 bringing together private enterprises, academics and researchers from both countries. This was made possible with the financial assistance from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka. The consortium builds linkages between research and industry between both countries and encourages advancement, investments, partnerships and joint ventures towards low carbon solutions with an increased focus on solar energy generation. The conference was part of this initiative.

The expert panellists consisted of Sturle H. Pedersen, Chairman of Norwegian clean energy company Greenstat Hydrogen Asia, Nalin de Silva, Senior Professor from the University of Colombo, Asanka S. Rodrigo, Director General of Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Senarathna Banda, Deputy General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Renewable Energy Development Division, S. Renganathan, CEO and Managing Director of Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka, and Kamal Dorabawila, Principal Investment Officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC). The session was moderated by Prof. Rohini M. de Silva from the University of Colombo.

Prior to the panel discussion the welcome address was delivered by the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, HE Trine Joranli Eskedal where she highlighted the need for greater collaboration in research, development and investment on clean energy. This was followed by Prof. Kathirgamanathan Kandasamy, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna and Prof. Dhayalan Velauthapillai, head of the research group on Advanced Nano Materials for Clean Energy and Health Applications of Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, who gave a brief overview on the collaborative work being undertaken between the universities in Norway and Sri Lanka. Inge Vikesdal, CEO Current Solar AS Norway, detailed their engagement in putting up the pilot floating solar plant in the University of Jaffna – Kilinochchi premises. Nanthini Nagarajah, a PhD Research Fellow of Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, presented the outline of her study on the drivers and barriers to clean energy transition in Sri Lanka.

The panel discussion was the main segment of the event and dealt with not only the promising potential in Sri Lanka for renewables but also the number of challenges the country faces in moving towards and transitioning to renewables and becoming more efficient users of energy. The panellists responded to questions from the audience in their area of expertise. Approximately sixty participants participated in the event.