The growing scarcity of conventional fuels and their adverse ecological and environmental impacts have raised global interest in harnessing various renewable energy sources. The influence of human burning of fossil fuels on carbon dioxide emissions adds urgency to a required shift towards renewable sources of energy. Renewable energy technologies are facilitating viable alternate sources of sustainable energy, which will be critical for future energy security across the entire world. In this context, the availability of adequate numbers of skilled manpower is central to ensuring that we make the most efficient use of the resources around us.

Renewable energy is a truly multi-disciplinary subject, and there are not many higher education institutes offering this as a subject. Also, several people in the government, industry and NGO sectors dealing with energy and environment in their routine work do not have adequate scope to learn about the basic and applied aspects of renewable energy.

A deep study of renewable energy requires a multi-disciplinary approach, and there are very few institutions of higher education currently offering this as a subject of learning. In addition, several people in the government, industry and civil society who deal with energy and environment in their routine work do not have adequate opportunities to learn about the basic and applied aspects of renewable energy. Bearing these factors in mind, TERI University is launching distance education programmes in renewable energy in collaboration with the Government of India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and the UK Open University.

These programmes are delivered online, but also have interactive interfaces during summer and winter breaks. Both working professionals and fresh students can benefit from these e-learning courses.

I warmly welcome all students who have registered for these courses.