Recent reports in the media suggest that
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan import anything between 75% and
100% of their respective domestic requirements for petroleum. The region is
otherwise rich in other sources of energy which are not evenly distributed and to
a large extent untapped. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have large reserves of
gas and coal. The entire region has among the world's highest potential for
hydro-electric power, with Nepal and Bhutan in the lead. There exists a high
potential for renewable energy, with India showing the way in solar and wind
energy. Sri Lanka is looking to leverage hydro-electricity and biomass
resources for its energy needs.
davidchapman on 23 Aug 07Researchers from SRI International recently completed the first ocean tests of a system that uses a so-called artificial muscle to generate power from the motion of a buoy riding up and down on the waves. The prototype produces very little electricity but the researchers say that wave farms based on the technology could eventually rival wind turbines in power output, providing a significant source of clean energy. The SRI system is not much more than a sheet of rubber attached to a weight. It has "the mechanical complexity of a rubber band," says SRI senior researcher Roy Kornbluh.
