First International Conference on Energy and Sustainability

 Overview

The first International Conference on Energy and Sustainability (ENERGY 07) was held recently at the New Forest Campus of the Wessex Institute of Technology (WIT). The Conference Chairmen were Professor C A Brebbia, Director of WIT, and Professor Viktor Popov, Head of its Environmental Fluid Mechanics Division.  

The Conference offered an opportunity for professionals from the energy sector and industry, as well as governmental and non-governmental organisations, and other interested parties to participate in discussions on key issues and challenges in energy and sustainability.  The Meeting was also aimed at the exchange of experiences and views on the current technologies and strategies applied in different parts of the world.  

Sustainable energy production is one of the key issues for modern society and requiring new ideas to advance the technologies and strategies currently in use. The main fields, which are the focus of many research efforts, are renewable energy sources, energy storage, energy transportation, energy efficiency, energy and sustainability and many others.  These and other aspects were the focus of the presentations and discussions carried out at the Conference.

 Opening Address

The Meeting was opened by Professor Carlos Brebbia who talked about the importance of these conferences as related to the objectives of the Institute.  Professor Brebbia mentioned that many of the new ideas and areas of research at WIT have been a direct result of the discussions with colleagues participating at conferences.  WIT started as a research organisation dedicated to advances in computer simulation based on computational methods, such as boundary elements (BEM); a major development originated under his direction.  As time advanced, the interest of WIT started to focus on environmental and ecological problems as well, and more recently, on a wider range of trans-disciplinary problems.  This led to several research initiatives as well as some pioneering publications in fields that relate physical sciences to social, economic and political problems.  

Professor Brebbia also referred to advances made by WIT Press in providing books and other publications in these new and exciting fields.  Part of these new projects has been the launching of three new journals on sustainability related topics.  The most recent is the International Journal of Design and Nature, which aims towards a better understanding of natural processes and systems in order to learn from Nature.  The Journal is concerned with many topics, including efficient and sustainable engineering systems that may be inspired by nature.  

 Invited Presentations

The opening paper at the Conference was delivered by Professor Viktor Popov of WIT, entitled “Management of electricity generation using the Taguchi approach”.  

Other invited presentations were:  

• “High temperature stability of n-decanethiol by adsorption on nickel powders used as reforming catalysts in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)”, by N Abatzoglou, University of Sherbrooke, Canada
• “Building skin and energy efficiency in a hot climate with particular reference to Dubai”, by M A Haggag, University of the United Arab Emirates
• “Clean energy saving: applied research into Etna’s water supply systems in Catania”, by F Patania, University of Catania, Italy

 Conference Topics

The papers presented at the conference covered a series of topics and were grouped in the following sections:  

• Energy resources
• Energy and the environment
• Energy efficiency
• Energy and life cycle analysis
• Energy and the built environment
• Energy markets and policy
• Renewable energy technologies

 Excursions

During their stay in the New Forest, the delegates were able to visit different sites in the locality, including those in the town of Lyndhurst, which contains a very interesting museum of the regional history.  They were also able to participate in an excursion to the Beaulieu River where they had lunch and visited the Museum dealing with the shipbuilding work carried out in the New Forest at the time that British Navy ships were built with oak from the Forest. 

 Conference Dinner

The Conference dinner took place at Rhinefield House, another interesting site in the New Forest.  It was the private residence of a couple originally from Nottingham, where the family had coal mines. One of these mines incidentally was associated with the workers’ quarters where D H Lawrence grew up. Rhinefield House is now a luxury hotel with a series of interesting state rooms.  

One of the rooms has been decorated in the Moorish style which is characteristic of buildings in the south of Spain.  It is called the Alhambra Room and is beautifully proportioned.  Its rich gesso decoration, tiles and walls and marble floor added to the enjoyment of the excellent cuisine.  At the end of the banquet, Professor Brebbia thanked everyone for coming to the Conference and offered them two souvenirs: his new book on Patagonia and a ceramic bowl made with local clay, hand painted and wood fired in the traditional way by a local potter who also prepares his own pigments.  Professor Brebbia hoped that the presents would help the participants to remember their visit to the Wessex Institute of Technology in the New Forest.

 Publication of Papers

Papers from the conference will also be hosted online at the WIT eLibrary as Volume 104 of WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (ISSN: 1743-3541). For more details visit the WIT eLibrary at www.witpress.com.  

Patagonia a forgotten land – from Magellan to Peron, by C.A. Brebbia,  384 pp (ISBN 978-1-84564-061-3) is available in hard back from WIT Press, priced at £33/US$59/€49.50.  Orders can be placed as above.  

The New Forest: A Personal View, by C.A. Brebbia, 112pp (ISBN 1-85312-504-0) is available in hard back from WIT Press, priced at £22.50/US$35.10/€37.50.  Orders can be placed as above.