Energy and Sustainability 2009

Second International Conference on Energy and Sustainability

pcr.jpg23 - 25 June, 2009
Bologna, Italy

 Overview

eres09.jpgThe 2nd International Conference on Energy and Sustainability took place recently in Bologna, organised by the University of New Mexico, represented by Andrea Mammoli, and Wessex Institute of Technology (WIT) represented by Carlos Brebbia.

The World’s economic system is driven by easily accessible energy.  Few of the advances made in the past two centuries would have been possible without the large-scale exploitation of fossil fuels.  Resource depletion and prediction of severe environmental effects deriving from the continued use of fossil fuels are sparking renewed interest in sustainable energy. The effort that will be required to shift from a fossil-based energy to one hinged on sustainability is massive, requiring advances in the basic sciences through to systems engineering and all the way to international policy making.

The evaluation of new energy technologies and systems cannot follow the compartmentalised model that has worked so well in the past, because of the time constraints imposed by oil and global warming.  All parts of the new energy economy are strongly inter-linked, and researchers in the field must be aware of the entire enterprise to maximise their own contributions.

This second conference on Energy and Sustainability offers the opportunity for scientists, professionals, policymakers and other parties to review recent developments in this rapidly changing environment.  The papers contained in this book span many of the critical aspects of the new energy economy, including renewable energy technology, energy management, policy, environmental impacts, systems analysis and efficiency.

 Opening Address

energy_pcr2.jpgThe Conference was opened by Carlos who referred to the importance of the series of meetings to the work of the Institute and the commitment of WIT to act as a medium for knowledge transfer among different specialities.  This commitment is the most important in fields like energy and sustainability where the problems require the collaboration of many different disciplines.

Carlos also mentioned the efforts that WIT is doing to promote further the literature resulting from the Conference, as the resulting books are now being disseminated in digital as well as hard cover format.  This work is carried out in conjunction with the launching of a series of new journals, ie:
  • Design & Nature and Ecodynamics
  • Sustainable development and planning
  • Safety and security
Andrea Mammoli also welcomed the delegates and referred to the importance of the Conference and the work carried out by his research group at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.  His research group works on a variety of energy related problems, with special emphasis on solar power in which they have developed numerous applications.

 Conference Sessions

energy_pcr3.jpgThe Conference covered the following topics:
  • Renewable energy technologies
  • Energy management
  • Energy policies
  • Energy and the environment
  • Energy analysis
  • Energy efficiency
  • Energy storage and management

 Keynote Addresses

There was a series of keynote addresses by well known specialists, as follows:
  • “Solar thermal heating and cooling: experience of a practical implementation” by A. Mammoli, University of New Mexico, USA
  • “Integrating intelligent glass facades into sustainable buildings: cases from Abu Dhabi, UAE” by M.A. Haggag, UAE University, United Arab Emirates
  • “Case study ‘the Vela Roof – UNIPOL’, Bologna: use of on-site climate and energy resources” by A. van Timmeren, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
  • “A review of the bioenergy potential of residual materials in Quebec” by N Abatzoglou, University of Sherbrook, Canada
  • “Gasified residual/waste biomass as solid oxide fuel cell feed for renewable electricity production” by J. Jurewicz, University of Sherbrook, Canada
  • “Energy and sustainability through integrated water network management” by M. Ektesabi, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

 Conference Dinner

energy_pcr.jpgThe Conference dinner took place in a renowned restaurant, considered by many as the best in Bologna.  The restaurant, called Carraci, is located in the Palace of the Hotel Baglioni, which has frescos painted by the Carraci brothers, who developed their own Art School in the XVII Century.  The delegates were offered local specialities accompanied by regional wines in the unique environment of the main restaurant, where the ceiling is decorated with frescos depicting stories from Roman mythology.

 Publication of Papers

energy_book.jpgThe proceedings of Energy and Sustainability II, 560pp (Print ISBN: 1-84564-191-7; On-line ISBN: 1-84564-368-3; Print ISSN: 1746-448X) are available from WIT Press priced at £213/US$393/€277.  Orders can be placed by telephone: +44 (0) 238 029 3223, fax: +44 (0) 238 029 2853, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via the WIT Press web site at www.witpress.com.

Papers from the conference will also be hosted online at the WIT eLibrary as Volume 121 of WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (On-line ISSN: 1743-3541). For more details visit the WIT eLibrary at www.witpress.com