Date: February 16, 2026
Time: 04:00 PM
Venue: Lecture Hall 1003, Block 7, IISER Berhampur
Flyer Link: Click here to view
Not Net Zero, but Net Negative Emissions and Sustainability: Green Hydrogen, Decarbonization, Biomass Valorization, and Waste Plastic Recycling
Achieving the net-zero goal by 2050 is a shared aspiration of economies worldwide. Projections indicate that global energy demand will reach approximately 49,000 TWh, of which nearly 73% is expected to be met by renewable sources, with hydrogen contributing about 25% of this renewable share. Hydrogen occupies a unique and central position in the energy transition, as it enables the conversion of biomass and carbon dioxide from diverse sources into fuels and value-added chemicals. When deployed as an energy carrier in synergy with other non-carbon renewable sources— such as solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, and nuclear—hydrogen provides a credible pathway toward a carbon-negative future, rather than merely net zero. Hydrogen will therefore play a decisive role in controlling CO₂ emissions, serving as the most effective vector for converting waste biomass and CO₂, derived from both fossil and biogenic sources, into fuels and chemicals. This emerging paradigm not only enhances the monetization potential of biomass and shale gas but also enables reduced throughput, improved atom economy, and higher energy efficiency in existing oil refineries. Hydrogenation-based processes can depolymerize plastic waste or convert it into fuels.
Prof. Ganapati D. Yadav - Prof. G.D. Yadav holds prestigious Bhatnagar Fellowship, the highest honour of CSIR, and earlier served as National Science Chair for three years, J. C. Bose National Fellow for 10 years. He is Emeritus Professor of Eminence for life at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, where he previously served as Vice Chancellor for 10 ½ years during 2009-2019 . Recognised globally, Prof. Yadav has received the Padma Shri (2016)—India’s fourth-highest civilian honour.
The Engineering Council of India conferred on him the Eminent Engineer Award (2024), while the Indian Chemical Society honoured him with the Rasayan MahaRatna (2025) during its Centennial Jubilee Year,
recognising his extraordinary contributions as a researcher, leader, and professional with deep industrial connectivity.
