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| The topics of the two lectures and the speakers |
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| The two speakers (from left) Prof Dr Hamdani, Prof. Dr Kamaruzzaman and moderator, Prof. Ir Ahmad Faizal |
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| A section of the participants at the Fellows' Lecture |
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| Photovoltaic cell as a Renewable Energy Technology |
Renewable Energy Resources - Hydro, Wind, Municipal Wastes, Biomass & Nuclear
giving away memento to Prof. Hamdani
1.
Introduction
The two lectures were
part of the ASM Fellow Lecture series organised on October 30, 2013 at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) premises
on the 20th floor of the imposing MARTRADE Building. It was attended by an estimated 50 made up of
Fellows, staff of the Academy and invited guests. The programme started at 09 30 hrs and ended
at around 13 00 hrs. It was officiated by
Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali, ASM President with Prof Ir Ahmad Faizal
Mohd Zain, Chairperson of Engineering and Computer Sciences Discipline Group,
moderating the session. The first topic discussed was on Sustainable Path for a
Carbon Free Future by Prof. Dato’ Dr Kamaruzzaman Sopian. Prof Kamaruzzaman holds a Ph. D in Mechanical
Engineering from University of Miami Florida and his involvement for 25 years
in solar radiation modelling and resource assessment and other related renewable
energy studies has yielded more than 700 papers published in journals and
conference proceedings. His research and
other contributions have been recognised both nationally and internationally with
many awards and medals. The second
lecture entitled Looking for Green Solutions to Our Energy Need was delivered
by Prof Dr Hamdani Saidi. Prof Hamdani
holds a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of
Bradford, UK. He is currently attached
to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and known for his pioneering research in
membrane technology in Malaysia. He
subsequently founded the Institute of Hydrogen Economy at UTM and appointed as
Dean, UTM Energy Research Alliance. He
has also published widely and accorded recognition for his work both at the
domestic and international fronts.
2. Sustainable
Path for a Carbon Free Future
Prof. Kamaruzzaman, the first speaker of the Fellow’s Lecture, and who has a long credential on renewable
energy technology especially in solar
energy, deliberating on Sustainable Path for a Carbon Free Future listed the
three challenges that Malaysia encounter in the effort for a sustainable
economic development – increasing price driven by a widening gap between supply and
demand of fossil fuel, energy security and climate change. These challenges have driven the need to explore
for alternative particularly renewable energy sources which, in Prof Kamaruzzaman’s list,
include solar radiation, municipal wastes, hydropower, wind and biomass. He
devoted quite a bit of his lecture on his own work in solar energy, researching
into the more effective photovoltaic silicon based panel and with his long
experience in this field, he has been entrusted by MOSTI to develope the
roadmap for the country’s Renewable Energy. Advocating for more investments in
R&D in renewable energy, Prof Kamaruzzaman, believes that hydrogen energy
resource may be the future as the element is available in abundance in the universe and
is not polluting. Among the strategies that he suggested for
implementation for an increase in the utilisation of renewable energy
technology include : (a) intensifying awareness and capacity building
programmes, (b) enhance market and infrastructure development, (c) enhancing
policy instruments supportive of market sustainability, (d) establishing
competitive local manufacturin industries, and finally (e) formulate a long
term R&D roadmap. With these
strategies, Prof Kamaruzzaman, concluded with optimism that, a carbon free
Malaysia and the world could be attained in the future.
3. Looking for Solutions to Our Energy Need
Prof Hamdani presented a global scenario of electricity generation which,
according to the figures provided, is
contributed by coal (37%), gas (18%), hydro (18%), nuclear (17%), oils (8%).
With the current sources of electrical energy resources, 43% of the carbon dioxide emission to the
atmosphere is at the high 43% with 15% of this gas emission coming from the
burning of fossil fuel of motor vehicles. These and other gas emisions have
enhanced tremendously the concentration of atmospheric gases resulting in the
horrendous climatic change causing floods, droughts, melting of ice in the cold
continents and the high mountains and other weather hazards. However, resources such as gas, oils and coal
are not only polluting but depleting in their availability and the demand which
far outstrip supply, has contributed to the escalating prices of both the
fossil fuels and coal. These
environmental, price increase and energy security considerations demand that
alternative renewable resources or green solutions be found. Prof Hamdani reviewed the various green
solutions that must fulfil criteria such as high efficiency, minimise waste,
low cost, conserve resources and has low carbon foot print. His many slides display the utilization of
photovoltaic cells in the country for drying of such food as salted fish and
marine algae, electricity supply for houses and energy storage in hybrid
automobiles. Being a strong proponent of
the hydrogen generated energy system, he argued that this is the green solution
of the future as its environment friendly, accessibility of the materials,
economic and cost effective. In the
interim until 2030, however, the globe must aim for the utilization of 20 to
30% renewable energy, with the non-renewable sources such as gas and oils will still
be of some importance as energy generating resources.
He suggested the following recommendations to meet green solutions to the energy need:
(a) Green Energy Fund be established
(b) Application of Green Energy System – hydrogen
system for transportation and electricity generation
(c) Establishment of Green Energy Group
in ASM
(d) Establish Green Energy Standards and
impose tax on polluters
(e) Capacity building
4. Discussion and Conclusion
The two
lectures received a lot of interest from the participants with many raising up
their hands to pose questions and make comments. Time only permitted four among those present
and the issues raised revolve around:
(a) Pico Hydro – in response to the
question posed as to the potential of this aspect of renewable energy, Pro
Kamaruzzaman felt as Malaysia has high rainfall with many sources of water
system that can be contructed, pico hydro has a big potential. However logistics can hinder and its development can be confined only to isolated
villages.
(b) Nuclear Energy - this source of renewable energy was not
discussed much by the two speakers and inspite of the question posed not much
was said
(c) Hydrogen System – though both
speakers are strong proponent of this renewable energy, it is felt that much
research work still needs to be undertaken and resources are still lacking for its
uptake
(d) Energy economy under the capitalist
economic system – from the discussion it is obvious that the direction of
development of renewable energy will largely be influenced by the capitalists,
who will view the availability of technologies and resources in the light of
where they could get the highest profit, with perhaps, little social and
environmental considerations. Accordingly, government intervention will have to come in to steer the direction it wants to go on renewable energy, taking cognisance of the three dimensional approach of harmonising wealth creation, social needs and environmental protection.
On a personal basis I have found the lectures very
informative and enlightening. As an
environment conscious individual, having served for a long period as
Vice-President of Malaysian Nature Society with Tan Sri Salleh Moh Noor and
linked up with other environmental NGOs in Sabah, I came out of the lecture
hall that day with optimism as human ingenuity in science and technology, is
paving different routes to show the way for the well being of human kind, in
this instance, green solutions to the energy economy. Also, having been
associated with the Academy for around three years, I feel that the Academy of
Sciences Malaysia is under good hands and that it will pursue key scientific
issues such as this iconic project and serve as the pressure and knowledge group
to provide the political leadership the way forward. Long live ASM.
Dr. Hashim bin Abdul Wahab, FASc
Email: hashim.abdulwahab@gmail.com
Website: Dr. Hashim's JofHappiness
Date of Posting : 2nd November, 2013
