Heavy transport’s critical role in the net zero energy transition
Fossil fuel alternatives for trucks are essential if we want to reach zero net emissions by 2050. Here are the challenges and opportunities for the transformation of this sector.
Dr. Arun Kumar
Dr Arun Kumar is the President Emeritus, Mentor-in-Chief of Development Alternatives and has extensive experience in the areas of technology design, system engineering, business development and research.
He has worked in the areas of renewable energy technology design and development, systems engineering and business development and general management.
Since 1989, Dr Kumar has been involved in the development and liberation of sustainable technology packages in the areas of low-cost construction, decentralised energy production, clean and green technologies, biomass utilisation, paper recycling and other livelihoods technologies.
Under his leadership, the first DESI Power Biomass based Energy System was installed and commissioned at TARAgram, Orchha in 1996. The unit meets the entire electricity requirements of the Appropriate Technology Centre of Development Alternatives.
Dr. Arun Kumar has been actively involved in planning for large-scale dissemination of cleaner technologies required under the International Protocols. The TARA Eco Kiln technology, promoted in India, is one of the first bundled CDM registered projects making available Carbon Revenues to small scale businesses.
During the course of research work on Structural Transformation Processes, he has authored a pioneering study on Downward Spiralling of resources – their impact on Livelihood Systems. He has authored numerous publications on technology promotion and benchmarking. His team’s research focus is to understand issues related to technology assessment, technology development and processes that accelerate acceptance of emerging energy technologies. A study, Exploring Green Business Solutions from Developing Countries has been published by International Trade Centre (UNCTAD and WTO) in November 2008.He represents the DA Group on several national committees of CII, Department of Science and Technology and Ministries.
His group is engaged in designing products and marketing systems for large scale delivery in rural markets. In this endeavor, the DA Group has successfully collaborated with large corporations and is planning to expand these initiatives. A pioneering initiative Network of Waste to Wealth Building Material SMEs has been launched for achieving scale; TARA Machines and Tech Services Private Limited. With investments by Grassroots Business Fund and a leading social venture investor; the company is poised for growth in national and international markets utilising a technology portfolio developed under his leadership.
