GLOBAL GOANS IN FOCUS - 2
Dr Levinson Martins, Managing Director of Goa Waste Management Corporation (left) and Prof Ravi Xavier Fernandes of PTB Braunschweig (right) during an Indo-German workshop in Germany earlier this year.
DOHA
Since 2013, Dr Ravi Fernandes has headed the Department of Physical Chemistry at the National Metrology Institute PTB (Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt) Germany. One of the many things which the Goan-born researcher and his team has been working on is sustainable energy.
“My research work on renewable energy started in 2007, when I was working for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California and we had collaborative projects with the Joint Bioenergy Institute (JBEI) at Berkeley in California,” said Dr Fernandes.
RESEARCH IN GERMANY
His fondness and quest to do more research on sustainable fuels took shape in 2009.
“After a couple of years at Sandia National Laboratories in California, I joined the RWTH Aachen University to set up research on “Physico-Chemical Fundamentals of Combustion” on tailor made fuels from Biomass. I think this was the birth of my research career in renewable and sustainable fuels,” he recollects.
Due to extensive experience in this area, Dr Fernandes was appointed to head the “Energy Measurements” at the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO).
“This is where I get to work with standardisation institutes, federal labs, energy ministries and government authorities where we work together and direct research initiatives towards harmonised standards for novel energy carriers,” says the German-based researcher.
Dr Fernandes said the research is enhanced at PTB in Braunschweig, and targeted towards new standards for novel fuels. The PTB is the National Metrology Institute of the Federal Republic of Germany under the Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (previously Ministry of Economics and Energy).
“I mostly worked with mechanical, chemical and aerospace engineers and since then, have been primarily working on interdisciplinary research projects on biofuels, electro fuels, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol and sustainable aviation fuels. We do fundamental and applied research on these new fuel molecules to see how they burn and whether they would have a potential to replace fossil fuels and contribute to sustainability such as the SDG Goal on affordable and clean energy,” he said about his research journey with focus on sustainable fuels.
“As the National Metrology Institute of Germany, PTB is Germany's highest and only authority in terms of correct and reliable measurements. We develop measurement techniques and measure with highest possible accuracies and precision. Alongside the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA and National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the UK, the PTB is regarded as the world’s leading institution in measurement science and standards,” said Dr Fernandes, who did his initial studies at St Rock High School in Tollecanto-Velim.
“Our Department of Physical Chemistry has a research and technology focus on energy metrology, we measure fuel properties, fuel qualities, energy conversion rates and efficiencies, and continuously strive to develop more accurate and innovative techniques to quantify these parameters and optimise energy conversion processes. We help develop standards for these quantities, and they are then disseminated and harmonised worldwide,” who completed his graduation from Chowgule College Margao.
Since 2016, Dr Fernandes had the honour to lead the Energy Measurements Committee under the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO), where the goal is to exchange the research ideas and harmonise international standards in energy metrology (Wind, Solar and Fluid Energy Carriers).
“This is our current scope of research, and we work internationally and interdisciplinary to achieve these standards and harmonise them worldwide. This is why we work on an international platform and work with industry and standardisation and government agencies,” he said.
LINKS TO INDIAN INSTITUTES
Dr Ravi is involved with a few Indian educational institutes, including IIT-Guwahati, and setting pathways for students to exchange research ideas and harmonise international standards in energy metrology.
“My role at IIT-Guwahati was exactly to achieve this collaboration with India and Germany on renewable energy and work on alternative energy carriers and energy conversion systems. As one of the reputed Indian institutions for science and technology, we also enjoy working together with the brightest minds in the country,” he says about his role at one of the leading educational institutes in India.
“The honorary professorship at IIT Guwahati allows me close interaction with students, researchers and faculty, initiates Indo-German exchange programmes and even hire some of the brightest talents from IITs back in Germany.”
“On the other hand, I give lectures and seminars at IITs which helps them to keep up with the research pace and inform them about the latest research results and progress in the field. I am also regularly invited to review PhD thesis and advice on promotions for faculty members.” (Concluded)
