The 2010 LCRI Conference “Challenges of the Low Carbon Revolution” took place successfully in November. The Conference and the Projects of the Convergence Energy Programme were launched by Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones, with a contribution from Professor John Harries, Chief Scientific Advisor for Wales, Professor Phil Jones, LCRI Chair and Professor Peter Pearson, LCRI Director. The keynote address at the Plenary session was given by Jane Davidson, Assembly Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing.
An excellent selection of technical speakers from academia, industry and government covered the areas of Built Environment, Large Scale Power Generation, Photovoltaics, Hydrogen, Marine and Bioenergy. A variety of projects recently started by the LCRI in these areas were presented and discussed.
More than two-fifths of the two hundred attendees were from industry, government and NGOs. The conference attracted international participants, ranging from a delegation from Tianjin University in China to attendees from USA and Canada.
Many of the conference presentations are available below:
Senedd Launch
Professor Peter Pearson (Welsh School of Architecture)
“The LCRI Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) Convergence Energy Programme”
Plenary
Chair: Professor Phil Jones (Welsh School of Architecture)
“Low Carbon Built Environment”
Professor Alan Guwy (Sustainable Environment Research Centre)
“Hydrogen”
Professor Stuart Irvine (Centre of Solar Energy Research)
“Photovoltaics”
Professor Mark Cross (Swansea University)
“Marine”
Dr Iain Donnison (Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences)
“Bioenergy”
Professor Phil Bowen (Gas Turbine Research Centre)
“Large Scale Power Generation”
Professor Malcolm Eames (Welsh School of Architecture)
“Scenario Modelling”
Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
“Welsh Energy View”
Built Environment
Chair: Professor Malcolm Eames (Welsh School of Architecture)
Mr Daniel Pillai (Tata Steel Colors)
“Sustainable Building Envelopes”
Dr Wayne Forster (Welsh School of Architecture)
“Low Carbon Design”
Professor Chris Tweed (Welsh School of Architecture)
“Building Performance and user behaviour”
Large Scale Power Generation
Chair: Professor Phil Bowen (Gas Turbine Research Centre)
Professor Nick Syred (Cardiff University - School of Engineering)
“Large Scale Power Generation, Challenges and changing Technology”
Dr Richard Marsh (Cardiff University - School of Engineering)
“Some Technical Challenges Involved with Large-Scale Power Generation”
Mr Janaka Ekanayake (Cardiff University - School of Engineering)
“Requirements of a flexible demand with a large penetration of wind”
Photovoltaics
Chair: Dr Vincent Barrioz (Centre for Solar Energy Research)
“Introduction”
Mr Gordon Butler (Sharp)
“Shaping the future with innovations”
Dr Zhongfu Zhou (Swansea University)
“PV Inverters & Technologies”
Mr Bruce Cross (GB-Sol, Solar Power Group - Renewable Energy Assocation)
“The Industry Perspective”
Professor Dave Worsley (Swansea University)
“Low Cost Flexible Dye Sensitised Solar Cells”
Hydrogen
Chair: Professor Alan Guwy (Sustainable Environment Research Centre)
Mr Jon Maddy (Sustainable Environment Research Centre)
“The CymruH2Wales Project”
Mr Trevor Fletcher (Hardstaff Group)
“Dynevor Arms: Renewable Energy Centre of Excellence”
Mr John Lidderdale (Logan Energy)
“Are Fuel Cells Commercially Viable for Providing On-Site Energy?”
Mr Alec Pell-Johnson (Revolve Technologies)
“Case Study: Hydrogen Transit”
Mr Stephen Hallett (ITM Power plc)
“Energy Storage: Clean Fuel”
Marine
Chair: Dr Ian Masters (Swansea University)
Dr Miles Willis (Swansea University)
“Marine Energy – Research Challenges”
Mr Michael C Reed (US Department of Energy)
“US MHK Policy Issues and Technology Development Initiatives”
Dr Gay Mitchelson-Jacob (School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University)
“Sustainable expansion of the Applied Coastal and Marine Sectors”
Ms Nicola Simpson (RPS Group)
“Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework”
Bioenergy
Chair: Dr Kerrie Farrar (Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences)
“Introduction”
Dr Paul Robson (Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences)
“Increasing yield in the biofuel crop Miscanthus by improved light harvesting”
Dr Jessica Adams (Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences)
“Post-harvest biomass processing for biofuel production”
Mr Matt Durran (Liquid Projects)
“Upcycling”