The South Asian Energy Corridor: Toward Sustainability and Security

This new volume offers up-to-date coverage of the energy scenario in South Asia, showcasing the major challenges being faced in the South Asian Energy Corridor in the context of energy security versus clean energy. The volume explores the role of diversifying supplies for the future to gain energy security that can lead to mapping joint ventures among conventional rival countries, especially due to the rapidly emerging economies of this region. India, China, Japan, and Pakistan, by their location and demography, occupy a major role in this corridor.

The book examines the role of major technologies vis-a-vis dominant energy players in South Asia to put checks and balances on energy security along with clean energy resources hand in hand. The economics along with the geopolitics of various pipelines, ports, and regional strategic relations strongly favor developing an ＂energy bond＂ among nations, with both technologies as well as markets available within the same region. The book strongly suggests increasing strategic energy cooperation between the major energy players to maximize mutual interest and reduce carbon emission for larger interests.

The volume first provides an overview of the South Asia Energy Corridor. It then goes on to look at the energy scenarios in the countries of the region, considering India’s need for energy security and for clean energy initiatives. The topics include advances in renewable energy in the region, new fossil fuel reserves exploration in South Asia advances in wind and solar energy in the region, and so much more.

Amritanshu Shukla, PhD, is currently working as a Professor in Physics at the University of Lucknow (NAAC accredited A++ University), India. Prior to this, he worked as an Associate Professor at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) (set up through an Act of Parliament by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, as an Institute of National Importance on the lines of IITs). His research interests include nuclear physics and physics of renewable energy resources. He has published more than 150 research papers in various international and national journals and conferences. He has delivered invited talks at national and international institutes. Currently, he is working on several national and international projects and has active research collaborations with institutions in India and abroad. His recent book publications include Low Carbon Energy Supply: Trends, Technology, Management (Springer); Sustainability through Energy-Efficient Buildings (CRC Press/Taylor and Frances); Energy Security and Sustainability (CRC Press, Taylor and Francis); and Latent Heat-Based Thermal Energy Storage Systems (Apple Academic Press). Dr. Shukla earned his master’s in Physics and completed his PhD from IIT Kharagpur, India. He did his postdoctoral research work at some of the premier institutes across the globe, namely at the Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar (Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India); University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of Rome/Gran Sasso National Laboratory, Italy; and Physical Research Laboratory Ahmedabad (Department of Space, Govt. of India).

Atul Shama, PhD, is currently Associate Professor at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), which has been set up by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, through an Act of Parliament (RGIPT Act 54/2007) along the lines of the IITs as an Institute of National Importance. He has worked as a Scientific Officer at Devi Ahilya University, India; as a Research Assistant at Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejon, South Korea; and as a Visiting Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kun Shan University, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C. Dr. Sharma completed his MPhil and PhD from the School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Devi Ahilya University, India. Dr. Sharma has published several edited books from the various well-known international publishers and research papers in various international journals and conferences. He completed several projects as principal investigator with funding from agencies, including the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, and Council of Science and Technology, U.P., India. He is working on the development and applications of phase change materials (PCMs), green buildings, solar water heating systems, solar air heating systems, and solar drying systems. Further, he served as a reviewer for many national and international journals, project reports, and book chapters.

Saurabh Mishra, PhD, is Associate Professor of Communication at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) (set up through an Act of Parliament by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, as an Institute of National Importance). He has teaching and research experience of more than 15 years. He has to his credit research papers and book chapters on varied interests. He is actively involved in studies related to the impact of communication and energy proliferation. His current research concerns include examining the role of crucial stakeholders in propagating national awareness and development of ideologies. His recent publications include papers and book chapters on renewable energy awareness and education in India, energy awareness and challenges in developing low carbon societies, energy efficient buildings- technology to policy awareness, and energy sustainability communications.