ICSGCE Keynote Speakers

Prof. Axel SikoraT

Prof. Yun Seng Lim (Senior Member of IEEE)
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia

Biography of Prof. Yun Seng Lim is available at http://www.icsgce.com/?person/24

Keynote Talk: To appear

[Abstract] To appear.

Prof. Omar bin Yaakob
(Associate of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia)

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Biography of Prof. Omar is available at http://www.icsgce.com/?person/55

Keynote Talk: Ocean Renewable Energy Initiatives in South East Asia

[Abstract] The declining availability of traditional sources of energy and the harmful effects of fossil fuels have spurred the development of various forms of renewable energy. Ocean Renewable Energy (ORE) technology is relatively new. Energy can be harnessed from the temperature difference between the cold bottom and warm surface water (OTEC), the tidal range fluctuations, tidal streams flow, ocean waves and the salinity gradient between salty and fresh water.

The present ORE development in South East Asia is mainly focussed on resource assessment and development of laboratory and small-scale prototypes of the various devices. Indonesia and the Philippines are embarking on larger scale projects. Because of the low tidal and wave resources large scale grid connected projects are very challenging. Most pockets of high tidal streams are located far from national grids connections while the regions of high tidal streams speeds are normally restricted channels making arrays impossible.

For wave energy devices, the resource-device matching is crucial. Conflicting uses of the sea restrict also large-scale arrays. Therefore, it is more practical to tailor development towards small local grids for remote islands or coastal communities around the region. On the other hand, OTEC seems to be the most promising for base load. There is a need for establishment of a sound policy environment and institutional framework including legal, environmental, economics, as well as funding mechanisms for pioneering R&D initiatives.

Prof. Eng Yoke Kee
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia

Biography of Prof. Eng is available at http://www.icsgce.com/?person/48

Keynote Talk: Road to Paris: Assessing the Current State of Renewable Energy Transition

[Abstract] The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was an alarming ring for the danger of not doing more in curbing carbon emissions. The task of achieving the emissions reduction target seems so insurmountable, leaving the question of what else could be done other than the drastic curb in human activities. But the economic profession has long found empirically that the pace of emissions can indeed be reduced alongside an increase in national income level. The more relevant question is thus not whether to curb human activities but how to de-carbonize the economic activities, for which renewable energy appears to be a key promising option. Of interest is, where does the world stand right now in terms of renewable adoption? This question is addressed through the framework of convergence by investigating renewable energy supply over 131 countries spanning the period 1960-2015 with 5-year span using the dynamic panel generalized method of moments estimator. We find statistically significant evidence of renewable convergence within and across developed and developing countries, however the renewable energy supply measured. In particular, developing countries demonstrate faster convergence rate than that of developed countries. The result is also robust when convergence is viewed as closing the gap in renewable energy supply with regional frontier.