Fri Mar 21 13:48:58 UTC 2025: ## Pondicherry University Conference Highlights Urgent Shift to Green Energy
**Puducherry, March 21, 2025** – A national conference at Pondicherry University has emphasized the critical need for a global transition from fossil fuels to green energy technologies. The two-day National Conference on Green Energy Technologies for Sustainability (NCGETS-2025), held under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair and Department of Green Energy Technology, highlighted the role of green energy in addressing climate change, pollution, and energy security.
R. Arun Prasath, UNESCO Chairholder and convenor of NCGETS-2025, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts from governments, businesses, researchers, and individuals to achieve this transition. He noted the department’s strategic partnerships, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South Asia Foundation through MSF, and ongoing efforts to develop further collaborations.
A key initiative showcased at the conference was Pondicherry University’s successful solar campus blueprint. Since 2010, the campus has increased solar photovoltaic production to approximately 3.5 MU out of its total annual energy consumption of 11 MU, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The university aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices.
Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor Phanithi Prakash Babu praised the department’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. The conference also saw participation from prominent figures including N. Sivasubramanian (retd. ISRO Chief General Manager), representatives from IISc Bengaluru, BHU, and various IITs and central universities. The conference concluded with a renewed call for action towards a sustainable energy future.
First Piper 