Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has established a broad based multi-disciplinary energy research centre that seeks to explore complex energy-related issues.
The Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) will encompass up to six research centres and institutes to address different energy-related issues. It will be a think-tank for scientists to assemble and exchange ideas, stimulating collaboration across scientific disciplines and inspiring new innovations.
Speaking at the launch of the new Institute, NTU Provost Professor Bertil Andersson says, "In these times of economic and political uncertainty, much attention is focused on energy supplies, their security and also their impact on societies. This adds to the growing concerns about the impact of climate change and global warming. The search for new energy sources and increasing the efficiency of our energy use is growing apace."
ERI@N aims to build and develop core capabilities in energy technologies through high-quality collaborative research and development and training of skilled professionals for the industry. The Institute will act as a collaborative platform for scientists, engineers, social scientists, and others from NTU and around the world to interact and jointly promote relevant energy-related solutions and policies for the future.
"At NTU, we need to prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead and build on our undisputed research strengths, especially in engineering. ERI@N has been set up to create synergies between our existing activities and mobilise our intellectual resources in all aspects of energy-related research, including business studies, economics, communication, and political and security studies," adds Professor Andersson.
"We adopt an interdisciplinary approach for our research as we believe there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Activities at ERI@N will seek to improve the efficiency of current energy systems while maximising the synergistic effects of alternative energy resources, so as to reduce the cost of production and enhance the overall living conditions for all of us," says Dr Subodh Mhaisalkar, Co-Director of ERI@N.
Driving towards global collaborations and exchanges, ERI@N is in talks with academic partners such as University of California, Berkeley and Imperial College London to pursue joint projects. The Institute is also working with multi-national companies and key industry partners such as Bosch, Rolls-Royce, Vestas and Atlantis.
The setting up of ERI@N is timely as Singapore has poised itself to be a global hub for clean energy, where "green" products are developed, made, and exported overseas. Last year, the Singapore government identified the Clean Energy industry as a strategic growth area for our economy. By 2015, the clean energy industry is expected to contribute S$1.7 billion to Singapore's gross domestic product and create 7,000 jobs.
The first centre that has been set up under ERI@N is the Centre for Sustainable Energy Research (CESR). Established with an initial investment of S$60 million to be used over five years, the researchers will address some of the world's most challenging problems, through investigations in advanced fuel cells, charge storage, wind/tidal energy and energy efficiency and smart buildings. CESR will comprise participation of about 40 professors, 40 research fellows and associates and 75 PhD/Masters' students.
Prof Chan Siew Hwa, Co-Director of ERI@N says, "We believe that before we reach the ultimate renewable energy economy, fossil resources will still dominate the energy market and thus diversifying energy use and continued R&D efforts to improve energy efficiency and energy conversion systems should be the way to go."
Over the next two years, up to five other research centres to be set up under ERI@N with focus on bioenergy, energy materials including photo-electrothermal & thermoelectrics, energy efficient construction materials and building design, energy efficiency for maritime and port applications, and energy economics and security.
In conjunction with the launch of ERI@N, the first Annual Workshop on Energy Research will be organised from 2 to 3 June 2009. The event provides a platform for researchers to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities. Renowned speakers such as Professor James Barber FRS from Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Professor Gehan Amaratunga from University of Cambridge; Professor Lynden Archer from Cornell University; and Professor Ramesh Ramamoorthy from University of California, Berkeley, will be addressing the local and international audience at the two-day workshop.