SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE - Community of Practice #19
Endless debates are ongoing in academia as well as in pollical circles about the most cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions of the future. There are several emerging future energy sources being researched and developed to address the growing global energy needs while mitigating environmental impacts. Some of these include:
- Renewable Energy - Solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy are examples of renewable energy sources that are abundant and clean.
- Nuclear Fusion - has the potential to provide a vast amount of clean energy but cost and radioactive waste are of major concern.
- Hydrogen Energy - Hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel source and energy carrier for various applications, especially in fuel cells for transportation or electricity generation.
- Bioenergy - Biofuels produced from organic materials such as crop residues, algae, and waste have the potential to replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Tidal and Wave Energy - harnessing the power of ocean currents and waves to generate electricity, offering a consistent and predictable energy source.
- Space-Based Solar Power – A concept that involves capturing solar energy in space and transmitting it wirelessly to Earth, potentially providing a continuous and abundant energy supply.
The Australian Power Quality Research Centre (APQRC) at the University of Wollongong's Sustainable Buildings Research Centre is an internationally recognised centre of excellence which supports research, education and consulting in distribution and transmission system power quality, reliability and renewable energy systems. The focus of the APQRC is to work in conjunction with industry to improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply through education, research and consulting activities for the benefit of all consumers.
Ty Christopher, Honorary Professional Fellow and Director of Energy Futures Network of the Faculty of Engineering & Engineering Sciences at the University of Wollongong will unpack some the myths and facts surrounding the various future energy sources. Ty has also served in many senior management roles in the power industry over several decades and is renowned for his expertise and contributions to the community in this space.
Preceding Ty’s presentation, Senior Structural Engineer and AUS-SPEC Manager Nandini Mehta will walk us through the maze of applicable standards for a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure industry, highlighting how standards can be utilised to more effectively build and manage infrastructure services.
AGENDA
1200 - 1205 Introduction (Nabil Issa)
1205 - 1230 Managing Infrastructure Assets More Effectively using National Specifications (Nandini Mehta)
1230 - 1315 Energy transition and The Grid of the Future (Ty Christopher)
1315 Closing Remarks (Nabil Issa)
