News in Shorts: 27 February 2025

National Conference on ‘Sustainable Cooling and Doubling the Rate of Energy Efficiency Improvement’

Context: Recently a  National Conference on ‘Sustainable Cooling and Doubling the Rate of Energy Efficiency Improvement’ was held in New Delhi.

About the Conference

• Organised by: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Power Foundation of India (PFI) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
• Objective: Focus on improving energy efficiency and promoting sustainable cooling solutions.

Key Highlights of the Conference

• Launch of  ‘India Energy Scenario 2023-24’ report, detailing energy trends and efficiency progress.
• India Achievement in Energy mix: India’s non-fossil fuel capacity reached 47.15%, and emission intensity reduced by 36% ahead of commitments.
• India’s goal: To double energy efficiency by 2030 and which requires an increase in the Energy Intensity (EI)  improvement rate from 2.5% (2024) to 4% (2030) as  estimated  by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

About PFI: The Power Foundation of India is a think-tank and a policy advocacy body in the power sector, operating under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

About the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• It is a statutory agency under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
• Mandate: Enhance energy efficiency across the economy through regulatory and promotional initiatives.
• Key Initiatives:
  • Energy efficiency programs in household lighting, commercial buildings, appliances, agriculture, SMEs, and large industries.
  • Develops energy consumption norms for industrial sub-sectors.
  • Focuses on capacity building for State Designated Agencies (SDAs).

Mount Fentale

Context: Mount Fentale (Ethiopia) has released massive methane plumes, an extremely rare volcanic event.

• Scientists describe this event as a “burp”, meaning a sudden large release of gas and  investigating its impact on climate change.

About Mount Fentale

• Mount Fentale is not known for frequent eruptions. 
• The last recorded eruption occurred in 1820, when a 2.5-mile-long (4-kilometre) fissure opened, leading to a lava flow.
• Mount Fentale released 58 metric tonnes of methane per hour.
  • This is highly unusual because methane is not commonly associated with volcanic eruptions.

Methane’s Climate Impact

• Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps 28 times more heat than carbon dioxide over 100 years in the atmosphere.
  • It is the second-largest contributor to global warming, responsible for 11% of total emissions worldwide.

Significance of Event

• Natural volcanic activity usually releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and Water Vapour (H2O), not methane (CH₄).,
• Scientific reason
  • The unusually high concentration of methane suggests that this event is not a result of magma reaching the surface. 
    • Instead, scientists believe that deep underground magma movements may have opened a gas deposit, allowing methane to escape through newly created fissures

NASA’s PUNCH Mission

Context: NASA is preparing for a unique solar mission called PUNCH mission to study the sun’s atmosphere.

• The mission aims to track the formation, origin, and evolution of solar winds and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
• These solar activities impact space weather, which can affect Earth’s communication systems, GPS navigation, and power grids.

About the PUNCH Mission

• Full Name: Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH).
• Launch Date: February 28, 2025.
• Launch Provider: SpaceX.
• Mission Type: A constellation of four small satellites working together.
• Orbit: Sent to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Mission Duration: Two years.
• Unique Features of PUNCH
  • First Mission to Use Polarised Light for 3D Study
  • This method will provide 3D insights into the sun’s atmosphere and space weather.
  • Advanced Imaging System
    • The four onboard cameras will continuously capture high-resolution images of the sun’s corona.
    • These images will help scientists create a 3D model of solar winds and CMEs.
    • The mission will help researchers understand how the sun’s atmosphere transitions into solar wind.

Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR)

Context: The DRDO and Indian Navy successfully tested the Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, odisha.

About Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR)

• It is an advanced anti-ship missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. 
  • It is designed to target and destroy enemy ships with high precision.
• The missile was launched from an Indian Naval Seaking Helicopter and hit a ship target with precision.
  • The missile successfully demonstrated the Man-in-Loop feature, allowing the pilot to change the target mid-flight.
  • It directly hit a small ship target using the sea-skimming mode at maximum range.

Advanced Features of NASM-SR

• Guidance Systems:
  • Indigenous Imaging Infra-Red Seeker: Guides the missile to the target in the final phase.
  • Mid-Course Navigation: Uses a Fiber Optic Gyroscope-based system and Radio Altimeter for accurate flight path.
• Smart Technology:
  • Two-Way Datalink: Transmits real-time images from the missile’s camera to the pilot for in-flight adjustments.
  • Target Selection: Launched in Bearing-only Lock-on mode, allowing pilots to choose hidden targets mid-mission.