Most of the current energy demand is met by chemical sources of energy by means of chemical combustion. While the combustion of conventional fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, leads to several environmental issues-leading to global warming, the reserve for such fossil fuels are getting depleted day-by-day. To preserve the mother earth as well as to utilize the renewable resources, the current energy technologies have to be upgraded to green and clean energy technologies. Any energy technology which involves the use of naturally replenishable sources such as sunlight, wind, tides etc. are called green and clean energy technologies.

India ranks the second largest country in renewable energy production which includes significantly use of solar, biomass, wind and tidal. Compared to the developed counties, the per capita energy consumption in India is still very low, though the energy demand is in increased trend. By the way, India is associated with wealthy inexhaustible energy resources from sun, wind, ocean current and biomass, besides roughly 12% of the world total hard coal reserves, the third-largest in the world, though the deposits are generally of low quality.

India, under National Solar Mission, aimed to produce 100 GW from renewable sources by 2022. Resource augmentation and its use in energy technologies have not been kept in pace to match the increasing energy demand, leaving significant energy shortages in India. Besides solar, wind and biomass, there are quite a few other eco-friendly and renewable sources from which one can tap energy for varied applications. Some of them are chemical sources of energy, hydrogen energy, geothermal energy, alternate fuels for surface transportation. Besides, the energy generation from renewable sources, there is a huge demand for research in energy storage, distribution and management. Efficient energy storage devices like batteries should be made of materials which are lighter, long lasting, rechargeable, durable, inexpensive and easy to make. Similarly distribution of energy from the point of production to the place of use should be efficient without loss and without causing harm to those who handle the devices. Developing Green Energy-production, storage and distribution is the only alternative to meet the challenges of energy future.

Thus, there is an urgent need to carryout in-depth studies and conduct research in Green Energy Science and Technology as well as Nanomaterial Science and Technology at higher level utilizing the expertise available in India and abroad. Also, the aimed human resources in green energy technologies are indispensable to meet the growing renewable energy industries. It is under this context, the Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies has been established with two composite units, namely, Centre for Green Energy Technology and Centre for Nano Sciences and Technology.

Currently, the following active and applied research works are being carried out going in the School: Solar cells including dye- and quantum-dot sensitized solar cells, solar thermal energy devices, bio-mass and bioenergy from wastes, fuel cells including solid oxide fuel cells, biofuel cells/microbial fuel cells, lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, supercapacitors including lithium-ion capacitors, hybrid energy-storage devices, biomaterials for environmental and health, thin film devices etc. A significant work is being carried out using polymers and nanocomposite materials for energy conversion as well as storage.

The following PG and Research programs are being offered by the School

• M. Tech (Green Energy Technology)
• M. Tech (Nanoscience and Technology)
• Ph. D (Green Energy Technology)
• Ph. D (Nanoscience and Technology)
• PG Diploma (Green Energy Technology)

Currently, 12 dynamic faculty are engaged in Teaching and Research activities in the School. Both the Centres are equipped with excellent Teaching and Research facilities. More details can be found from the respective Centres.

Dr. K. Tharanikkarasu
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Dean, Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies
Pondicherry University
Pondicherry 605 014
Tel: (Dir) +91 413 2655572 (Off) 2654939
E-mail ID: deanmsget@gmail.com, deanoffice.get@pondiuni.edu.in

The Department of Electronic Media, the Department of Mass Communication and the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) were started in the academic year 2007-08 with a motivation to grasp the ever-expanding knowledge domains of media and culture, media production, informatics, knowledge management and library and information sciences. Initially all three departments were under School of Physical, Chemical & Applied Sciences. Recognizing the meta-disciplinary nature of all these subjects, the three departments have now been coalesced into one single enclave called The School of Media and Communication. Further, the three subjects share commonality in teaching and research, and the same is evidenced in the synthesis of communication and information sciences in universities across the globe.

The School of Media and Communication comprises of i) the Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication (DEM&MC) and ii) the Department of Library and Information Science. The Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication (DEM&MC) was created in 2012, by combining the Department of Mass Communication and Department of Electronic Media. It offers two postgraduate programmes viz. M.A. in Mass Communication and M.Sc. in Electronic Media, Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and PhD in Media and Communication since 2010. The Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) began offering MLIS programme in Library & Information Sciences in 2007, Postgraduate Diploma in Library Automation and Networking (PGDLAN) in the evenings in 2009-10 and PhD in 2010.

The School of Media and Communication is one of the emerging interdisciplinary academic entities of the University. The broader arc of the school’s curriculum encompasses Digital Media and Culture, Journalism for Print, Radio, Television and Internet, Media Production, Library & Information Science and Technology. Its profound aim is to produce informed scholars and skilled manpower to meet the needs of the national and international communities as well as industries.  

The school’s main goal is to achieve excellence in all respects including teaching, services, research and innovation. By that corollary, the school offers an innovative communication and information curriculum to impart knowledge to postgraduate students who come from diverse social, cultural and economic backgrounds. The school maps the career for graduates by turning them into a new breed of journalists, media professionals (both print and electronic), and research scholars, Library & Information Science Professionals who are fit to meet the needs of the industry in the country and abroad. 

Various programmes offered in the departments under the School are given under title programmes of study. These programmes are highly innovative and challenging. With students drawn from different parts from India, the School provides an excellent academic curriculum that has enabled the alumini to get positions in the emerging labour market.