Commercial progress in Nanotechnology requires standards, based on science and engineering and is of paramount importance to network with all stakeholders to promote initiatives and technology to industry to add value, said Small and Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED) Director, Renuka Herath.

Speaking at a seminar titled `Nanotechnology in Energy Industry’ at the Federation House in Colombo yesterday, she said in the near future the impact on the energy sector would mainly be improvement of efficiency in current technologies.

Citing examples, Herath said more and more companies are investing `Green Nanotech’ by creating products that are friendly to the environment and save energy.

She said: "Reduction of carbon emissions is fast becoming the number one priority of corporations and industries. Nanotech can make a positive contribution to this issue. Other companies address the rapidly growing clean burn fuel marker."

She said energy saving also includes technologies such as better insulation, solid sate lighting and reduction of weight of automobiles by the use of carbon nanotube and nanofibers in composite materials for weight and reduction in automotive applications.

SMED, the technical arm of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, looks forward to being a brand name in Small and Medium Enterprises industry by being the gear box between industry / National Science Foundation/ SLINTEC in introducing new technology of electronics, telecommunications, energy, textile/apparel, agriculture/food, ceramic, metal, rubber, plastics, coir industry, nano-medicine etc.

Professor O. A. Ileperuma of the Department of Chemistry, University of Peradeniya, stressing on the topic `Alternative Energy Sources for the Electricity needs of the country: Nano Applications and Marker Potential’, said industrialists should have a positive attitude rather than simply sticking to the instructions of foreign advisors.

He said silicon based solar cells are attractive and has distinct advantages. "Silicon is cheap and almost inexhaustible. There are no moving parts or any greenhouse gases emitted which give rise to global warming. They are particularly suitable for tropical countries."

He says when one considers the cost factor, silicon is not suitable for Sri Lanka. He said the use of nano particles of titanium dioxide is cheap, non toxic and Sri Lanka has adequate resources of this in the form of mineral sands.