June 2018 Renewable Green Leaders Issue 014

RENEWABLE GREEN LEADERS

Bio | Geothermal | Hydro | Finance | Green Buildings | Legal | Recycle | Solar | Sustainability | Upcycle | Storage | Tidal | Waste | Wind

Bertrand Camus Senior Executive Vice President

SUEZ

Latest Updates

More Work, Less Time

AUS Joins International Tiny House Movement, Creating A Small Living Space How Engineers Can Optimize Their Schedule For Maximum Productivity With Big Potential Meet The World’s Largest Hydroelectric Machine That Uses Wave Energy

How Engineers Can Get More Done Without Extending Work Hours

Is It Really Possible to Get All of Our Energy From Renewable Sources?

How Engineers Can Gain Credibility With Little to No Experience

Tidal Waves Could Supply One-Third of the World’s Electricity Needs

Should Engineers Adapt the 3-Hour Work Day?

JUNE 2018 ISSUE NO. 014

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For the month of June, we are featuring SUEZ and its Group Senior Executive Vice President in charge of Africa, Middle East, India, Asia and Pacific, Bertrand Camus. In this special interview with Bertrand, get to know SUEZ and the company’s success stories and latest technologies and product innovations. Learn more about their future expansion plans, how we can make our water accessible, cleaner and sustainable and their top notable projects. He also shares what his leadership style is and how women can overcome the struggles of being leaders in the industry.

We have included several special features on the magazine such as the following: • How Can A Graduate Degree Drive Your Career Forward?

EDITOR’S NOTE

• Is It Really Possible to Get All of Our Energy From Renewable Sources?

• World’s Largest Hydroelectric Machine that Uses Wave Energy • Tidal Waves Could Supply One-Third of the World’s Electricity Needs • Israeli Company Says It Turns Wastes from Landfills Into Plastic Products We also prepared helpful articles for engineers who want to get more work done without working overtime. Forget about extending work hours to beat the deadline. Learn how you can do your work in the least amount of time. Find out how you can optimize your schedule for maximum productivity! Read about our special feature on gaining credibility with little to no experience as well! Lastly, find out whether engineers should adapt the 3-hour work day or now.

So go ahead, scroll through our pages and read the latest stories that put the spotlight on the green energy industry. It’s that time of the month to sit back and relax. Get your monthly dose of engineering and technology news and stories with GineersNow: Renewable Green Leaders!

Engr. Alice Hernandez Senior Editor-at-Large

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Contents Bee’ah Honours UAE students for Efforts in Environmental Advocacy

8

Shell Signs Agreement on Energy Development in Oman

37

Are You an Engineer with Leadership Aspirations? Six Reasons Why Executive and Professional Education Could Be Your Secret Weapon

10

DEWA and Drydocks World Sign MoU to Cooperate in Renewable Energy and Asset Management

38

How Engineers Can Do More In Less Time

12

Should Engineers Adapt the 3-Hour Work Day?

39

SUEZ: Making Our Planet Cleaner and Sustainable

14

How Engineers Can Optimize Their Schedule For Maximum Productivity

40

AUS Joins International Tiny House Movement, Creating A Small Living Space With Big Potential

28

This Company Says It Turns Wastes from Landfills Into Plastic Products

42 44

Engineers Find a Way to Convert Carbon Dioxide Back to Energy

30

Food Waste Can Supplement Solar and Wind Energy Supply

46

How Engineers Can Get More Done Without Extending Work Hours

32

Tidal Waves Could Supply One-Third of the World’s Electricity Needs

47

AUS Architecture Professor Selected for Prestigious Fulbright Program

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World’s Largest Hydroelectric Machine that Uses Wave Energy Is It Really Possible to Get All of Our Energy From Renewable Sources?

48

Bee’ah Honours UAE students for Efforts in Environmental Advocacy Bee’ah, the Middle East’s leading and award-winning environmental management company, reiterated its commitment to education and environmental responsibility as it rewarded the outstanding creativity and innovation of students and teachers at the Environmental Excellence School Award (EESA) ceremony. Winners of the 5th Inter School Recycling Competition (ISRC) were also recognised at the ceremony. The event, which took place at Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre in Sharjah, on Sunday, 13th May, 2018, hosted nominees from kindergarten to Grade 12, from the emirates of Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Dubai.

Inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the EESA and ISRC are competitions which were launched by the Bee’ah School of Environment to incentivise and encourage positive environmental action among students.

This year’s edition had the unique distinction of being the first awards ceremony following the expansion of the programme. HE Sheikh Dr Abdulaziz bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi “The Green Sheikh” graced the occasion and encouraged the students’ efforts in environmental advocacy.

HE Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Bee’ah, said, “We have always been deeply committed to increasing environmental awareness in the UAE. It is impossible to secure our ambitions for a green future without the participation of our future generations. It gives us

great joy to witness the incredible growth of the BSOE, and increase in participation in our competitions, the EESA and the ISRC. This shows the enthusiasm with which children are embracing their role as environmental advocates. These students represent our future and their passion for the environment is evident in the submissions that they have made. We applaud their dedication, passion and hard work, and are pleased to acknowledge their efforts here today.”

The expansion of the programme has also led to new collaborations. Earlier this week, Duracell announced a new strategic partnership with the BSOE, which will inform, encourage and empower students to recycle used batteries as part of a mutual commitment to advancing environmental education.

Duracell is one of the biggest investors in sustainability programs in the battery industry globally and is dedicated to mitigating its impact on the environment through a programme of environmental sustainability best practices. This new collaboration will ensure Duracell can introduce initiatives that bring alternative battery recycling solutions in the UAE, in a major step towards a sustainable future and protecting the environment.

In this edition of the competition, the EESA, which was formerly known as the Sharjah Environmental Awareness Award (SEAA), had opened participation up to schools from across the UAE. The competition received an astounding 311 entrants this year, all of whom exerted their creativity and best efforts towards addressing this year’s theme, ‘Preservation of Natural Resources’. In positive affirmation of rising environmental consciousness in the region, the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority had extended their support to this edition of the EESA. A total of fourteen awards were presented under the categories of Best Environmental Science Experiment, Best Environmental Film, Best Environmental Prototype, Best Environmental Invention, and Outstanding Individual Achievement. Winners were chosen by a judging panel made up of environmental experts and Bee’ah representatives, and walked away with cash prizes ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 25,000.

The winners of the Best Environmental Science Experiment, in the kindergarten to Grade 2 category, were Athan Primary School from Ras Al Khaimah in first place, Al Nafaes KG from Sharjah in second, and Al Shahad KG from Fujairah in third. In the Grade 3-5 category, the prizes for the Best Environmental Film were all bagged by schools from Sharjah; with Omama Bint Abi Alaas coming in first place, Lubna Bint Habab School in second, and Leaders Private School in third. Dubai-based Gems Our Own English High School won the award for Best Environmental Prototype in the Grade 6-9 category. The top prize in the Grade 10-12 category for Best Environmental Invention went to the New World American Private School from Sharjah, while Sharjah’s Delhi Private School claimed second place, and New Indian Model School from Dubai placed third.

The Outstanding Individual Achievement (Students) awards were presented to Sharjah Indian School’s Joyal Joseph in first place, and Jerin Sam Jojy in second. The hard work and inspiring efforts of teachers were also celebrated at the ceremony with the Outstanding Individual Achievement (Teachers) awards going to Jaseena Hameed, from Sharjah Indian School in first, and Shoa’a Al Dhanhani, Al Massa Primary School in second place.

The ISRC, which is currently Sharjah-based, saw schools competing to collect the largest amount of recyclables. Delhi Private School, in the ‘Large Schools’ category, won first prize by collecting an impressive 39.31 tonnes of recyclable material. In the ‘Medium Schools’ category, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services collected 7.17 tonnes to secure the first position, while Al Sahwa School collected 11.44 tonnes to come first in the ‘Small Schools’ category.

Following the huge success of this year’s expansive programme, the Bee’ah School of Environment looks forward to reaching a larger number of students, from across the Nation, in the upcoming academic year. . With such an immensely enthusiastic response from students, teachers, and schools, Bee’ah’s vision for environmental sustainability has been rejuvenated and reemphasised.

Are You an Engineer with Leadership Aspirations?

Six Reasons Why Executive and Professional Education Could Be Your Secret Weapon Those who are successful in reaching the highest echelons of the engineering profession are often those who have allocated time and energy to their ongoing education.

Rising to the top of one’s organization or industry is no easy feat. With an increasingly competitive workforce of ambitious contenders in the engineering sector, it comes as no surprise that navigating the ranks of middle management and then executive roles take hard work and commitment. Indeed, there are instances in which hard work and dedication alone are not enough to secure a top position.

Those who are successful in reaching the highest echelons of the engineering profession are often those who have allocated time and energy to their ongoing education.

Here, Dr. Ilias Visvikis, Director of the Center for Executive and Professional Education (CEPE) at American University of Sharjah, sets out six reasons why a commitment to 10

Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

continuous learning can be the defining factor when it comes to standing out in a tightly held engineering workforce.

1. Undertaking a professional or executive education program keeps you up-to-date with the latest developments in your industry or profession. This is especially important for engineers, where rapid changes in technology mean that skills and knowledge to be renewed on an ongoing basis. Failing to keep up can lead to falling behind from a technical perspective, and becoming sidelined by new recruits possessing more recent education and training.

2. However, becoming a leader in the engineering sector relies on more than technical skills alone. You can be the very best

competitive among a group in a foreign country that you would not have otherwise had a good chance of succeeding in.

6. One of the most under-rated benefits of executive and professional education to a person’s career is the sense of confidence it gives them – confidence that is absolutely essential when it comes to convincing their employers that they are up to the task of leadership, and essential to effectively leading their team once they have won their new position.

Dr. Ilias Visvikis

engineer from a technical standpoint, but this far from assures your progression into higher management. Leaders need leadership skills, and often these are not the skills you learn during your degree. A professional or executive education program can help you gain confidence in new areas, such as communication and influencing skills, financial know-how, management ability, and a whole host of other capabilities that are essential to gaining – and maintaining – a leadership role.

3. One of the best ways you can secure your long-term career prospects is by developing an extensive professional network, full of other like-minded professionals. Joining an executive or professional education program is a great way to build your network, and establish meaningful relationships with people who one day could be the key to getting your dream job.

4. Importantly, completing professional and executive education programs evidence to future employers your commitment to your career progression. It shows you take your career seriously, verifying to those on interview panels that you have the drive and ambition to learn the skills and acquire the knowledge you need to move into a leadership position.

5. Executive and professional education courses also afford you the opportunity to broaden the geographical location in which you are seeking a promotion. Having a course under your belt from an institution that is known and respected internationally can help you break into a new overseas market, and make you

Of course, professional and executive education is not just beneficial to those undertaking it. Evidence shows that organizations that invest in ongoing training and development for their future leaders reap the rewards in the long-term. Organizations with a strong culture of investing in their people have higher rates of employee engagement and retention, with increased productivity and profitability. For engineering firms, identifying future leaders and then devoting the necessary time and energy to developing their leadership talent is one of the best ways to retain talent and build an effective succession plan. We have worked with a number of engineers and organizations with large engineering workforces, and have seen first-hand the positive impact such training and education has at an organization-wide level.

If you have management or leadership aspirations, do not neglect your ongoing learning and development. The sooner you make a commitment to undertaking high quality, and well recognized professional and executive education, the sooner you will start to see your career take flight.

CEPE offers custom programs and open enrollment courses, all designed to give participants the knowledge, skills and selfassurance to foster new ways of thinking, better ways of doing business and opportunities to secure the success of their organizations for years to come. CEPE has special expertise in the engineering sector, drawing on the knowledge and experience of faculty in the university’s College of Engineering. To find out more about CEPE, and the programs it offers for engineering professionals and organizations employing engineers, visit www.aus.edu/CEPE.

Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

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How Engineers Can Do More In Less Time

Get things done in the least amount of time possible

Studies show that most people are unproductive at work. And when you’re an engineer trying to get to the top, that can be a very dangerous trap to fall in. But if there’s just so much to do in so little time, how do you handle it without the burnout? Well luckily, Science has given us a few ways to help: Some people are more energized in the morning, some in the afternoon, and some at night. Try to find out where you stand in the spectrum.

If you tend to wake up early and do fine with the standard work hour, you’re likely to be a morning person. If you’re tired during the first half and get into full work mode on the second half, you’re an afternoon person. If you’re eternally exhausted throughout the workday but tend to stay up at night, you’re most likely a night owl.

Find out when you’re at your peak and try to adjust your work schedule to it.

Get enough sleep

Research has shown that sleep allows the body to rest and repair itself for the grind the following day. So despite our culture’s tendency to pull all-nighters, just sleep in and set that work aside for tomorrow. Your body will thank you for it.

Take a break

Our bodies aren’t exactly designed to keep working and working for 8 hours straight. We get tired for a reason. Remember, Productivity is about excelling at the tasks that generate the highest value, not doing the most number of tasks.

Our body can only focus for 90-120 minutes at a time. To help you through this, you need to take the “basic rest-activity cycle”, where after every 1-2 hours you take a 15-20 minute break throughout the day. It gives you enough time to rest and refocus and still get stuff done.

Get an office plant

Yes, I know, this is a bit odd. But science says it helps. Apparently, houseplants in the office helps workers become 15% more productive.

Maybe it’s the fresh air and reconnection to nature where we belong.

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The Smart Operation Center in Le Pecq (France)

SUEZ: Making Our Planet Cleaner and Sustainable

In this special interview with Bertrand Camus, SUEZ’s Group Senior Executive Vice President in charge of Africa, Middle East, India, Asia and Pacific, get to know SUEZ and the company’s success stories and latest technologies and product innovations. Learn more about their future expansion plans, how we can make our water accessible, cleaner and sustainable and their top notable projects. Camus also shares what his leadership style is and how women can overcome the struggles of being leaders in the industry.

GenSpot solution_Bathing water analysis in less 3 hours

Wastewater treatment plant of Aquapole in Grenoble, France

THE COMPANY Describe the company’s past achievements, its challenges and success stories.

With a history in the water and waste management stretching back over 160 years, SUEZ has been part of the major social revolution in the 19th century - public health - and in the 20th century - modern urban services. Today, new challenges have emerged. The linear model (extract, produce and consume) has come to an end. The roaring effects of climate change and the growing scarcity of resources call for a new model to generate growth: the circular economy model.

Since 2015, SUEZ has placed the circular economy at the heart of its transformation.

All Group brands (SITA, Lyonnaise des Eaux, United Water, Degremont, Safège, etc) have been brought together under the single brand name of SUEZ, positioned in the sustainable management of resources.

Alongside the resource revolution, we are

also facing the digital revolution that is transforming our activities. As a true driver of its transformation, innovation is at the heart of the Group’s strategy. We mobilize the resources offered by the digital to provide new solutions to our clients in the field of smart & real-time monitoring and data management. As an example, we have completed last year the rollout of VISIO centers in France to provide a 360° vision and monitoring of water and wastewater services across the country, offering better management and optimization of the service, and greater sharing of data with local authorities and users. Building on that success, the Group has just launched Valovisio®, the first smart center for waste management and recovery.

SUEZ has accelerated its development through acquisitions: it purchased Aguas de Barcelona (Agbar), a company specialized in water cycle management in Spain and other countries in Latin America. In 2017, the Group acquired GE Water for €3.2 billion in order to boost its presence on the industrial water market and support international growth.

La Maison pour Rebondir, the social innovation laboratory of SUEZ in Bordeaux

Wastewater treatment plant in Doha West

Tell us about your latest technologies and product innovations.

Last year, SUEZ established a new Business Unit Water Technologies & Solutions (WTS) following completion of the acquisition of GE Water. This new entity is a unique platform in a booming industrial water market. It represents a strategic shift for SUEZ that is fully in line with its development strategy and more particularly 3 of its 4 growth drivers: industrial customers, international development and smart solutions. Indeed, it improves SUEZ’s revenue profile with industrial clients now representing 40% of the Group’s revenues.

WTS also provides SUEZ greater balance in terms of its geographic presence, with approximately 40% of revenues generated outside Europe. We are consolidating our international presence in key regions, particularly in the United States, and capturing growth opportunities in emerging markets such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America. We have also strengthened our capacity for innovation (2,500 patents and a network of 12 R&D centers) and will join the digital revolution.

A true geographical and technological complementarity that will enable to accelerate the Group’s profitable growth strategy.

The Group continued to develop its business in all regions and activities in 2017.

At international level, SUEZ has strengthened its presence in Latin America, with the €195m contract for the extension and operation of Panama City’s wastewater treatment Ganay Basin in Marseille, France 16

Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

Wastewater treatment plant of West Basin, California

plant. In the Middle East, a soil remediation contract worth €107m was signed in Qatar to rehabilitate 400 ha of lagoons south-west of Doha with the objective of improving and preserving the region’s environment. Lastly, in Australia, SUEZ pursued its development with contracts for household waste collection in Brisbane (€600m, 16 years) and for the construction of a wastewater recycling plant in Perth.

SUEZ has also accelerated the rollout of smart solutions and new services. We worked with major local authorities and metropolitan areas to co-develop smart cities and sustainable territories. These include Dijon Metropole in France for connected management of its public spaces. A consortium - made up of Bouygues Energies & Services and Citelum, along with SUEZ and Capgemini - builds and will maintain for 12 years a connected control center for the public facilities of 24 municipalities in the metropolitan area.

What are the future expansion plans and goals of the company?

As previously explained, one of the major highlights of 2017 was the acquisition of GE Water, a game-changer for SUEZ with its potential for growth acceleration. 2018 will be a year of growth for SUEZ. At an international scale, the Group will keep supporting the environmental transition: scarcity of resources, demographic growth, galloping urbanisation… new environmental requirements are growing all over the world.

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Wastewater treatment plant of Aquapole in Grenoble

The Group is consolidating and expanding its activities and markets in countries where it has been active for a long time (USA, Australia, China, Morocco, Chile), while at the same time expanding its positions in countries or regions with high potential for its activities (India, Middle East, Latin America, etc.), and selectively continuing its development across structural projects or sustainable locations in new regions (sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia).

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As an example, in Australia, SUEZ is building a new 14 million m3/year Advanced Water Recycling Plant located in the Northern suburbs of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia.

The water treated will be used to recharge the aquifers, which provide about half of Perth’s drinking water supplies.

ABOUT WATER How can we make our water accessible, cleaner and sustainable? What are your projects and initiatives to make this happen?

Water availability and quality is a limiting factor for industrial and community growth, and the need to do more with less is intensifying.

Human population today consumes 5% of the available water resource on the planet. As for the industry, it consumes between 15% and 20% whereas agriculture accounts for more than 70 percent. There will be no human development without industrial development.

Indeed, the first tangible consequences of climate change are already threatening the quality and quantity of water resources, especially in emerging countries. The industrial water demand will necessarily grow in the coming years.

As a consequence, the water sector will grow significantly in developing regions (India, Africa, Latin America, South-East Asia…) with steady participation from private operators, due to the combined effects of intense urbanization, growing industrialization, rising living standards among the population (expectation of better services like 24/7 water supply), increasing pressure on water availability and more stringent regulations on environmental protection and pollution control.

These challenges imply huge investment programs, both on drinking water, wastewater infrastructures and rehabilitation of existing water networks to reduce leaks.

In Cameroun, SUEZ is currently building the drinking water production plant of 300,000 m3/day in Yaoundé, the capital, on behalf of Chinese company SINOMACH-CMEC. This project will respond to the drinking water needs of the fast-growing population of Yaoundé, which today has nearly 3 million inhabitants, and will support the capital city’s economic development.

For example, in India, SUEZ has designed and built more than 250 water and wastewater treatment plants and currently operates 25 of them. SUEZ also plays the role of a water services provider for major municipalities such as Bangalore, New Delhi, Kolkata, Coimbatore and Davanagere. Its activities contribute towards the distribution of 5 billion liters of drinking water to over 44 million people every day. Our water services expertise has benefited 15 million people across large cities in India.

In developed countries like China, new projects are still ongoing in connection with population growth, urban development and sustained economic and industrial growth over the past Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

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R&D at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park

30 years while water resources are becoming scarce. Desalination for example is developing to supply drinking water to coastal populations in regions that suffer from water stress and to supply high water-consuming industries.

low-carbon economy by encouraging new consumption and production models. The Group subscribes to the two-degree trajectory by raising the ambitions of its previous roadmap.

The Chinese government decided to increase the volume of drinking water produced by desalination plants from 1 million to 3 million m3 per day by 2020.

We’re determined to limiting the carbon footprint of our business activities in all the countries where we operate with absolute GHG emission reduction targets of more than 30% by 2030. Equipping all storage sites with biogas recovery systems, reinforcing the clean vehicle policy and increasing the energy performance of our business activities will contribute to reaching this goal.

SUEZ NWS has built over 250 water and wastewater treatment plants in Greater China, supplying drinking water to 20 million people.

In August 2017, we have inaugurated the 4th drinking water plant (130 000 m3/day) invested, designed, built, and operated by SUEZ NWS in Macao.

How can we make our waste sustainable?

Through its 2017-2021 Sustainable Development Roadmap, SUEZ is committed to become a leader of the circular and 20

Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

We are also committed to helping our industrial customers and local authorities to avoid more than 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas by 2021 through dedicated circular economy solutions (material and energy recovery), while doubling the recycling of plastic, a major economic and environmental issue for everyone.

Severnside Energy Recovery Centre (SERC)

Giving plastics a second life is a virtuous example of circular economy. Producing one tonne of recycled plastic saves five barrels of petroleum, the equivalent of 1.6 tonne of CO2 and up to 90% of energy compared to producing one tonne of virgin plastic.

SUEZ, a key player in plastic recycling with 9 dedicated plants in Europe, processes over 400,000 tonnes of plastic each year across the continent and already produces 150,000 tonnes of recycled polymers. It has set an objective of increasing its processing capacity by 50%, to over 600,000 tonnes, by 2020.

SUEZ also takes actions about the consequences of climate change on water, by promoting different usages of water by tripling its alternative water supplies by 2030 and systematically offer its customers resilience plans.

Leakage detection in the Malviya Nagar district in Delhi Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

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TRIVIA Symbol of New York, the Statue of Liberty should not have been there. Designed by the French artist Auguste Bartoldi, it was originally intended to be located in Suez, at the mouth of the canal on the Red Sea. This is one of the many stories told at the exhibition “L’épopée du Canal de Suez” currently taking place at the Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris.

SUEZ, indeed, was born from the Universal Maritime Suez Canal Company (Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez), formed by Ferdinand de Lesseps in 1858. The corporation constructed the Suez Canal between 1859 and 1869 and operated it until 1956.

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Wastewater treatment plant Aquapole in Grenoble Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

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THE PERSON Introduce yourself .

A French native, I have spent many years living and working overseas, including in the United States as CEO of SUEZ North America from 2008 to 2015.

Being back in France since 2015, I am currently in charge of Africa, Middle-East, India, Asia and Australia within SUEZ Group.

I am married, with two young adult sons. I grew up in Guyana where my father was a French government representative.

I am a diligent golf player.

Define your leadership style.

No leadership style is better than the others; all have a specific time and situation in which they will be the most effective. I am trying to adapt the form of my leadership depending on the team member - like a chef does knives, based on what he/she needs at the time and what is the best tool for him/her to do the job.Â

How do you think can women overcome the struggles of being a leader in your industry?

All companies within the SUEZ Group share a common focus on developing gender equality: gender diversity in job roles, equal pay, equal access to career management and training. This policy is supported by specific programs such as mentoring and coaching. Three editions of the mentoring program have been launched since 2012 with the objectives of accelerating the careers of women within the Group, developing their leadership skills.

96 women employees in Europe have already been involved. The women newly appointed Senior Executives (TOPEX) have all participated in the mentoring program and 30 women have moved to a position with greater responsibilities at the end of the program.

GĂŠolide Wastewater treatment plant in Marseille

Drinking Water production plant in Chon

Mediouna wastewater treatment plant in Casablanca

Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park was

Night view of Bhandup drinking water production plant in Mumbai

Wastewater treatment plant of As Samr

ngqing, China

ste-to-energy plant at night

ra in Amman, Jordan

SUEZ’s Iconic Projects The acquisition of former GE Water, a gamechanger for SUEZ with its potential for growth acceleration.

The smart-city contract with Dijon Metropole in France to build and maintain for 12 years a connected control center for the public facilities of 24 municipalities in the metropolitan area. This is the first time in France that a local authority has developed on a project of this scale based on Open Data.

In Belgrade, SUEZ won a 25-year Public-PrivatePartnership to develop a new municipal waste management system. This project will make it possible to close and remediate one of the largest landfills still active in Europe and generate over 80 MW of renewable heat and electricity with a 340,000-ton p.a. energy-from-waste plant.

In France, a 10-year contract for the production and distribution of drinking water with the city of Sète in the form of a unified public-private partnership (in France, a Société d’économie mixte à opération unique, or “SEMOP”) The development of major industrial partnerships.

A global MoU has been signed for a 3-year period with L’Oréal for the continuous improvement of environmental performance and the optimization of resource management throughout the Group’s value chain.

In China, SUEZ NWS delivers its expertise to 11 of the main industrial parks, including the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP). The Group supplies water and effluent treatment for the petrochemical facilities of the park as well as the treatment and recovery of hazardous waste.

We are proud to have supported the Paris bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and engaged with all stakeholders, all sports and the project partners.

Supporting industrial customers and local authorities to avoid more than 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas by 2021 through dedicated circular economy solutions.

SUEZ’s partnership with the UNESCO Oceanographic Commission and NGOs since 2015 to develop solutions to protect the oceans and coastlines from pollution.

AUS Joins International Tiny House Movement, Creating A Small Living Space With Big Potential Faculty and students at American University of Sharjah (AUS) have unveiled a “Tiny House” on campus, showcasing the latest research in sustainable and environmentally friendly construction.

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Faculty and students at American University of Sharjah (AUS) have unveiled a “Tiny House” on campus, showcasing the latest research in sustainable and environmentally friendly construction. A team of undergraduate students, professors and alumni from the university have worked together over the past 12 months to design and build the Tiny House, which will serve as a laboratory for AUS students and researchers, and as a platform for future innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

The project is a first for AUS, but it follows a much wider global Tiny House campaign. The movement began in the United States in the 1990s in an attempt to combat the rising cost of housing and the adverse environmental impacts caused by over-sized housing.

Despite the number of people per household declining in the USA over recent decades, house sizes have increased dramatically.

The cost of housing relative to average incomes has also risen significantly, isolating many Americans from the dream of home ownership. The Tiny House movement serves as a backlash to these trends, demonstrating that sustainable and comfortable home ownership can be achieved.

At just 194 square feet (18 m2), the AUS Tiny House uses substantially less resources than typical houses in developed countries. The house has also been outfitted with a number of innovations that keep water and energy use to a minimum and reduce its overall carbon footprint, including light-weight panel walls (low cement content with high insulation and fire resistance values), sensor faucets, and grey water reuse. Future plans include solar power on a movable shade, geo-thermal cooling, and a composting toilet.

The project has also served as an excellent learning opportunity for AUS students, who have been closely involved in overcoming many of the practical challenges encountered during the construction.

Dr. Robert J. Houghtalen, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at AUS, says: “Civil engineering students often produce

designs and reports for their senior projects; they rarely build what they design. When our students constructed the Tiny House, they saw how easily design mistakes can be made as contractors try to assemble a structure from building plans. In addition, the students felt a sense of accomplishment by promoting small-space, low-cost, sustainable living as a solution to the world’s housing challenges.”

Tiny Houses such as the one built at AUS offer enormous potential globally, as urbanization rates increase and housing space comes at a premium in many of the world’s cities. Tiny Houses offer the opportunity of home ownership to people who would not otherwise have any prospects of living in a space that is theirs, including recent university graduates and aging retirees. In developing countries, Tiny Houses also offer a path out of homelessness and poverty, providing living space that is not only cheap to build, but also relatively inexpensive to run.

A graduate of the AUS College of Engineering, Hasan Mahmoud, who now works as a Project Manager at SAF Panels Dubai, was instrumental to the project, providing many of the environmentally-friendly materials, and offering his knowledge and expertise throughout the design and build. He placed his support behind the project for several reasons, saying; “My undergraduate experience at the College of Engineering has set me up for a great career, and I was therefore keen to give back to the university, and help current engineering students at AUS who are passionate about the environment. The Tiny House is a great way for students to put their textbook knowledge to the test in a practical way. But this project is not only about helping students to learn, it will also help to generate more sustainable building practices – something that we need to be more mindful of as engineers”.

The Tiny House will remain in the AUS outdoor lab, with students from across the university using it as a space to test new ideas and innovations, shaping what sustainably driven living of the future may look like.

Renewable Green Leaders • June 2018

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Engineers Find a Way to Convert Carbon Dioxide Back to Energy

These Canadian engineers could be the savior of our climate and energy woes.

Carbon engineering, the brainchild of founder, Harvard Professor David Keith, has begun testing a concept of washing carbon dioxide from thin air and converting it for use in fuels.

The $9-million pilot plant in the coastal town of Squamish British Colombia, should be able to strip around one ton a day. Not nearly enough to put a dent in in greenhouse emissions, but thus far it’s only a pilot and the concept is up scalable to a plant similar to the one depicted.

and conversion to fuels, up and running by the end of the decade. He sees this as an exciting opportunity to monetize greenhouse gas reduction through the supply of fuels for aircraft and long haul transportation.

The process uses an existing technology called wet-scrubbing, where large fans push air through a special liquid that traps CO2.

This is then recycled as the CO2 is separated into pellet form. The CO2 pellets can be heated and combined with hydrogen to create hydrocarbon synthetic fuels.

The business case is yet to be established.

Will the fuel produced be a cost effective alternative to fossil fuels?

Sounds simple enough right? Well the provincial government of British Colombia, Bill Gates and Murray Edwards part- owner of The Calgary Flames all think so, and have put their money where their mouth is, backing the venture.

The company CEO Adrian Corless has ambitious plans to have the carbon extraction

However, the cynics and naysayers say that the cost will far outweigh the benefits and will just prolong our dependence on hydrocarbon fuels.

Will these huge walls of fans prove more effective than the traditional green house gas catcher, the humble tree? If in fact we are at the precipice of climate Armageddon will this technology be enough? Or will we just have to adapt our technology away from hydrocarbon-based fuels? Given the $30 trillion infrastructure in current fuel technology, carbon engineering is at least attempting to save us from financial Armageddon, so let us hope they succeed.

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How Engineers Can Get More Done Without Extending Work Hours

Don’t want to work overtime? Do these instead.

As an engineer, we all know how busy we can get. There’s just so many that needs to be done in so little time. Sure, we’re used to it ever since the first year of engineering school, but working in the engineering industry is a different world. In these moments, it’s tempting to work overtime. We know it isn’t good for our mental and physical health, but what can we do? Well, a lot, actually.

Most of the time, the reason why we can’t get things done on time is are simple mistakes we’ve been doing all our lives. Well then, what are these mistakes, and how do we fix them?

Well, here are 8 ways to make sure you can get more things done on time: 32

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#1 Organize and plan everything Make sure every project, every venture, and every task is well thought out and planned for ahead of time. This’ll keep the flow of the task going whilst making sure you don’t run into problems that’ll slow you down. #2 Work with what you’re good at. Ask help for things you aren’t Working with things you’re good at is no problem at all. With the things you aren’t good at, however, you don’t have to struggle through it by yourself. Know what you can or cannot do, and ask for help from an expert at the task and learn how they do it.

What are your top priorities in this job? Which tasks are the ones you love to do? What do you want to contribute to the company? Make the tasks that answer these questions the top of your priority list, then it won’t even seem like you’re working at all.

lures us in by telling us “we can save that job for later” and provide us the temporary relief of not having to deal with it. That is, until it’s almost the deadline and we have to rush it in a day. There are several ways to combat procrastination, with one of the most effective being the 5-minute rule. You can easily find these methods by googling them.

#4 Build networks with people

#7 Turn technology from an enemy to a friend

If you want to be able to get help when you need it, you’d need a network of people you know. So build healthy business relationships with everyone. You never know when they could lend you a hand.

Sure, technology can be a major distraction, but it can also be the most helpful thing you could ever have. Use technology to automate things that take a lot of time. Use t to remind you of the tasks you need to do and their deadlines. Use it as a mode of communication with your boss or coworkers. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, after all.

#3 Do what you love and love what you do

#5 Stop getting distracted This is easier said than done, but it’s one of the most vital parts of getting things done. If you keep on getting distracted by social media, coworkers chatting, or even other tasks you’d want to do at the same time as your current task, you’re never going to get it finished on time. So try to find a way to keep yourself focused on the single task at hand. #6 Don’t procrastinate Procrastination is the productivity killer. It

#8 Set your priorities This is not just about listing in which order to do the tasks at, but also about time management. De-prioritize everything that isn’t urgent, even if others insist it is. Make sure each task can be done in the amount of time you set it to be, otherwise leave it for another day and do another task that takes less time.

This things are the main key to getting tasks done on time.

“Outline of the Plan of the Foreign Settlements at Shanghai”, from Col. A. M. Murray’s Imperial Outposts. Published by John Murray (London), 1907. Source - University of Texas Maps.

AUS Architecture Professor Selected for Prestigious Fulbright Program

Marcus Farr

historical architectural methods could inform more sustainable construction practices in modern China, and around the world, and will also be teaching.

Marcus Farr, a faculty member of the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS), has been named a 2019 Fulbright Scholar, a prestigious and widely recognized acknowledgement of scholarly achievement.

Farr will travel to the Yangtze River Delta region of China under the program, examining how

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international academic exchange program of the US government, offering students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists who are American citizens the opportunity to conduct research and teaching abroad. The program also offers citizens of other countries the opportunity to do the same in the United States, promoting increased mutual understanding between the US and the world through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. Acceptance into the program is highly competitive, with successful entrants chosen by a committee of senators appointed by the United States President. Farr joins a prestigious list of scholars undertaking the program, with Fulbright alumni including 82 Pulitzer Prize recipients and 59 Nobel Prize winners.

Farr’s research will look at how traditional approaches to building in the Yangtze River Delta, one of China’s most populated regions,

“The architecture of the Chinese suggests, in its general out-line and the peculiar concave roof, a canvas tent as its primary motive, though there is no further proof than this likeness of its origin. From the palace to the hovel, in temples and in private dwellings, this type is everywhere, and almost nothing like a dome or cupola, a spire or a turret, is anywhere.” - from page 773 of “The Middle Kingdom”.

Williams, Wells, Scribner’s Sons, New York. 1913.

could yield clues for modern developers seeking to create buildings with a smaller carbon footprint and reduced impact on the local environment. With extreme climate conditions in the delta region, it provides a microcosm for exploring how building practices can be adapted to counter extreme heat and cold. As part of his research, Farr will investigate how historical material choices and the placement and orientation of buildings can improve the sustainability of contemporary architecture, both in China and further afield.

His research will be disseminated through a series of seminars at Tianjin University, one of China’s top- ranked architecture schools.

Farr says of his work for the Fulbright Program: “As professors of architecture, it is our responsibility to ensure our students understand the impact of their work in a wider context, and appreciate their role in overcoming some of the greatest challenges we face at a local and global level. The impact of waste and climate change affects all of humanity, and so it is with some urgency that we must begin to create built environments that are more sustainable and future-fit. We must begin to understand— and apply—building practices that have less of a negative environmental impact and will well serve our future generations. Knowledge of historical practices in architecture and building traditions have much to offer in showing us how this can be achieved. I am excited by what I might find through my Fulbright research and the impact this will have for future urban development.”

A highly uncommon map of Tianjin; China dating to 1932. Tientsin was a major trading center in Northern China and, like Shanghai, had administrative concessions to several foreign nations including England, Italy, France, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Japan, Germany and Russia, which had an impact on the architectural settlements.

Shell Signs Agreement on Energy Development in Oman On signing the agreement, Maarten Wetselaar, Shell Integrated Gas & New Energies Director, said: “Shell has a long and proud history in Oman, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to take it to new levels through our proposed programme of development and investment in the country. We are hopeful we can use Shell’s integrated gas and new energies investment to accelerate Oman’s diversification and industrialization agenda. The proposals could also enhance in-country value, resulting in value and job creation in Oman’s economy.”

Shell Gas & Power Developments B.V. (Shell) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Oman to cover proposed energy development projects in Oman. The agreement covers upstream gas exploration and development, gas-to-liquids (GTL), liquified natural gas (LNG) and renewable energies.

The MoU sets out an initial mutual understanding between Shell and Oman and serves as a platform for further

negotiations on the proposed developments. Under the agreement, Shell is to operate an upstream project with Total and Oman Oil Company (OOC) as partners. It will also operate a GTL project with OOC as a partner.

The proposed investments will help Oman meet its energy needs and growth aspirations and are aligned with Shell’s strategy of building a resilient and relevant portfolio that is positioned for long term success.

Chris Breeze, Shell’s Country Chair in Oman, said: “We are focused on maximising value for Oman and Shell by sustainably developing the country’s resources and increasing the share of renewable energy in Oman’s energy mix. This is in line with Shell’s aim to provide more and cleaner energy solutions.”

The MoU sets out an initial mutual understanding between Shell and Oman and serves as a platform for further negotiations on the proposed developments. Further announcements will be made as and when appropriate.

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DEWA and Drydocks World Sign MoU to Cooperate in Renewable Energy and Asset Management

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Drydocks World, a DP World company, to collaborate in renewable energy projects and exchange expertise and best practices in asset management and maintenance, as well other programmes and activities of mutual interest. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to enhance strategic partnerships with government departments and organisations.

The MoU was signed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, and HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World. The signing ceremony was attended by Capt. Rado Antolovic, CEO of Drydocks World, and Haroon Al Awadhi, Divisional Manager – Technical and Maintenance at Drydocks World. It was also attended by Rashid Bin Humaidan, Executive Vice President of Distribution 38

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Power, and Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Government Communications at DEWA. “At DEWA, we are committed to working closely with government departments and organisations. We are pleased to sign this MoU with Drydocks World to share our expertise in solar power within the framework of Shams Dubai initiative, which DEWA launched to connect photovoltaic systems in buildings with its grid.

This supports Dubai’s global leading position in clean energy and green economy and contributes to achieving the Smart Dubai initiative to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world.

These joint efforts to use solar power also support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75% of Dubai’ total power output from clean energy sources and make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint by 2050,” said Al Tayer.

“Through this MoU, we will also cooperate in asset management and maintenance. DEWA is the first government utility in the world to receive the Certificate for Asset Management for the integration of high quality asset management in operations related to the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water. The certificate recognises DEWA for implementing the highest standards of asset management infrastructure in these operations. We look forward to fruitful and effective cooperation with Drydocks World, to achieve our common goals of serving our beloved nation,” added Al Tayer.

“Drydocks World is a strong proponent of environmental conservation in maritime development. Aligning our clean energy initiatives at DP World with DEWA will enhance the yard’s commitment to preserving to the marine environment, and to consolidating Dubai’s position as a global centre for sustainability, in conjunction with the UAE’s objectives.

Drydocks World strives to be at the forefront of sustainability, and through this memorandum with DEWA, we will create a united pursuit towards the city’s goal of being a global hub for clean energy and transitioning to a green economy,” said Bin Sulayem.

Should Engineers Adapt the 3-Hour Work Day? There’s a convincing case that this might just work.

In 2016, a survey was conducted among 1,989 UK office workers and found that the average employee works for about 3 hours – or 2 hours and 53 minutes, to be more precise. And the rest of the time, as discovered, the workers just read the news, browse social media, eat food, socialize about non-work topics, take smoke breaks, and even search for new jobs.

This study is supported by many others – one research concluded that people can only concentrate for about 20 minutes at a time, another said that people struggled to stay on task for more than 10 seconds – to say that an eight-hour workday may be five hours too long.

Anders Ericsson, an expert on the psychology of work, believes so.

“If you’re pushing people well beyond that time they can really concentrate maximally, you’re very likely to get them to acquire some bad habits,” he told Business Insider in 2016.

In his career, Ericsson discovered that “practice makes perfect” indeed works, but if people engage in a certain kind of practice known as “deliberate practice.” This means that people do not need so many hours to focus on their craft, and even experts only

spend a few hours to improve their skills, and then they stop.

While a three-hour work day makes this convincing case, another alternative, which is also shorter in terms of workweek, is already being explored by companies.

From 40 work hours in a week, technology education company Treehouse has made it to 32. That’s broken down into four eight-hour days instead of the usual five.

Ryan Carson, the CEO of the company, revealed that he saw his employees become happier and more productive after he implemented the 32-hour work week way back in 2006. He believes that forcing people to work 40 hours per week is “nearly inhumane,” as mentioned in his interview with the Atlantic in 2015.

“It’s not about more family time, or more play time, or less work time — it’s about living a more balanced total life,” he said. “We basically take ridiculously good care of people because we think it’s the right thing to do.”

Will this shortened work hours be in favor for engineers given the nature of the job and the demand to deliver? What do you think?

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How Engineers Can Optimize Their Schedule For Maximum Productivity Here are some tips for improving your schedule and increase your productivity at work.

More often than not, we engineers have a lot of tasks on our to do list every day and it can be overwhelming. In the process, many find it a struggle to finish their tasks, or sometimes have a hard time to just get them started. The best solution for this is to have an effective routine that allows you to get a lot more tasks done in less time.

Here are some tips for improving your schedule and increase your productivity at work: Plan Your Day In Advance Before you start any of your tasks for the day, spare some time to write down your to-do list for the day and what you need to accomplish.

Plan out your schedule with the most important tasks as priority. You could also write your list at the end of each day in advance for the next work day. This will allow you to have organized thoughts and will allow you to get more things done.

Focus on the Important Tasks Sometimes with so much urgent or emergency matters throughout the day, we tend to overlook the big tasks that we are supposed to finish. Urgent matters are inevitable, so try to make it a point to set a number of big tasks you have to finish everyday. Try focusing on getting three big tasks done everyday. Write these goals at the top of your list and schedule your day around them.

When you are working on these big tasks, avoid distractions. Don’t let anyone interrupt you while you are working on the big 3.

Do the task you hate the most first We all have tasks that we hate, and we would do anything we can to avoid it. Unfortunately, these tasks will come one way or the other, so when it does–do it first. Do the task you hate the most first so that the rest of your tasks will seem easier in comparison. You’ll be able to focus better on your other tasks because you won’t be thinking about that certain task that you hate.

Take Breaks Working hard is good, but don’t let it get the best of you. No one is perfectly productive 24/7. Remind yourself that you are still human and need to take a break. Let your brain rest so that you can go back to your work refreshed and ready to get your tasks done

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This Company Says It Turns Wastes from Landfills Into Plastic Products

“This is the mine of the future,” the company COO pointed at one massive landfill.

Turning garbage from landfills into plastic products seems to be far from reality, but an Israeli firm claims that they have done it already. They also said that they have patented a process to convert household trash into reusable plastic, with its Chief Operating Officer Christopher Sveen saying that the heaps of garbage are the mines of the future.

It was five years ago that the idea started.

Eventually, the science behind the conversion of waste to plastic was developed, and now took its final form through a patent.

At Kibbutz Zeelim, on the edge of southern Israel’s Negev Desert, a company called UBQ is changing the way plastic is produced 42

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through its one-of-a-kind production line.

Reports say that the plant can process one ton of municipal waste per hour, an amount that could still be scaled up according to the team.

“We take something that is not only not useful, but that creates a lot of damage to our planet, and we’re able to turn it into the things we use every day,” said Albert Douer, a member of the company’s board and chief executive of Ajover Darnel Group, an international plastics conglomerate.

He added that UBQ’s material can be used as a substitute for conventional petrochemical plastics and wood, reducing oil consumption and deforestation.

Chief Executive Jack Bigio revealed about their company’s process that recyclable items like glass, metals and minerals are extracted, and the remaining garbage— “banana peels, the chicken bones and the hamburger, the dirty plastics, the dirty cartons, the dirty papers”—is dried and milled into a powder. Once in powder form colored steely gray, the material is entered into a reaction chamber where it is broken down and reconstituted as a plastic-like composite material.

While it sounds like a process that produces carbon dioxide, UBQ said that it doesn’t do that. It even added that the patent they have uses little energy and zero water.

The company estimated that for every ton of material produced, it prevents between three and 30 tons of CO2 from being created by keeping waste out of landfills.

Moreover, UBQ said in a statement that its material can be used as an additive to conventional plastics. It mentioned that 10 to 15 % is enough to make a plastic carbon-neutral by offsetting the generation of methane and carbon dioxide in landfills. It can be molded into bricks, beams, planters, cans, and construction materials.

But unlike most plastics, UBQ says its material doesn’t degrade when it’s recycled.

Yet all of these remain a mystery as the Israeli company is yet to disclose the details of the too-good-to-be-true process.

Skeptics like Duane Priddy, chief executive of the Plastic Expert Group, likened the claims to alchemy.

“Chemists have been trying to convert lead to gold for centuries, without success,” Priddy, a former principal scientist at Dow Chemical, said in an email to The Associated Press. “Likewise, chemists have been trying to convert garbage to plastic for several decades.”

While questions remain to the legitimacy of the patented process, UBQ said in March 2018 it has already raised $30 million from private investors.

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Food Waste Can Supplement Solar and Wind Energy Supply New research proves an alternative in storing solar and wind energy.

Converting food waste to clean energy is the future.

When there is no sunlight and the wind is barely blowing, all solar panels and wind turbines serve no purpose. This is why it’s important to have storage devices to keep excess solar and wind energy, like pumped hydroelectric storage currently used in the industry. Batteries are eyed as an alternative to this, but how about using food wastes to store solar and wind energy?

Battery and flywheel storage take advantage of chemical and mechanical energy, but this new alternative of storage from food wastes use thermal energy, that is storing energy as heat. Through sugar alcohols that are abundant waste products in the food industry and carbon nanotubes, this is possible.

Researchers Huaichen Zhang, Silvia V. Nedea and others were funded by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme to analyze what happens when carbon nanotubes of varying sizes were mixed with two types of sugar alcohols that are naturally

occurring compounds in food, which are erythritol and xylitol. They found that under one exception, heat transfer within a mixture decreased with the diameter of the nanotube.

Their analysis also concluded that higher density combinations led to better heat transfer.

It’s still a long shot that sugar alcohol-based energy storage systems will replace pumped hydroelectric storage, but this is a good foundation for a new alternative in storing renewable energy.

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Tidal Waves Could Supply One-Third of the World’s Electricity Needs

Research says we only have to invest in developing the technology.

There is so much potential in using tidal waves as a source of electricity. All we need to do is develop proper technology and facilities that would harness the massive energy that comes from our ocean, theoretically able to provide for one third of the global electricity demand.

That is the core of the study conducted by the researchers at the School of Ocean Sciences in Bangor University in North Wales, United Kingdom. In a press release, they said that 5,792 TWh could be produced by tidal range power plants by using tidal lagoons and barrages to convert energy. This is not a difficult harvest since they claim that the rise and fall of the world’s oceans are highly predictable.

In the review published in the international peer-reviewed journal Renewable Energy, it wrote how tidal lagoon power plants can be optimized through detailed modeling.

Furthermore, it discussed the different mode of operations of multiple tidal lagoons located along a coastline, may it be flood only, ebb only, and two-way generation plants.

Dr. Simon Neill, lead author of the study, explained, “Tidal lagoons are attracting national and international attention, with the 2017 publication of the government

commissioned “Hendry Review”, which assessed the economic case for tidal lagoon power plants, and suggested that a “Pathfinder” project in Swansea Bay could be the start of a global industry. Geographically, the UK is in an ideal position, containing many regions of large tidal range as a result of the resonant characteristics of this part of the European shelf seas.”

The study indicated that 90% of the resource is only distributed across 5 countries, with France having a significant share of the resource other than the United Kingdom.

Another author of the study, Dr. Sophie Ward, mentioned that it takes sophisticated research for these types of power plants to flourish.

She said, ”Although tidal lagoons will likely be less intrusive than tidal barrages (which tend to span entire estuaries), they require careful design and planning to minimize the impact on the local environment.

“With significant global potential for tidal range power plants, we need to closely monitor environmental consequences of extracting energy from the tides, and be cautious of altering natural habitats by building structures and impounding water in lagoons or behind barrages,” she added.

World’s Largest Hydroelectric Machine that Uses Wave Energy This company believes that its “oysters” hydroelectric wave energy that can power thousands of homes.

In a world where people are looking for a better and cleaner alternative to coal as our source of energy, engineers and scientists have engaged in different researches to find a new source of power that would be good for us and for the environment as well. Knowing that the world’s surface is made up of 70% water, they found a way to use ocean waves as a new source of clean energy. Who would have thought that using wave turbines can lead “exceptional results” in generating power?

power 9,000 houses using 20 of its Oysters.

Aquamarine Power, a Scottish wave power company, spent months testing its Oyster 800 wave machine in Orkney. This is the largest working hydroelectric machine that uses wave energy to produce power in the world. It works by pumping high-pressure water into its hydroelectric turbine, which then powers the electric grid that is used around its neighborhood for electric consumption. This device can be used even at shallow depths and it’s easy to maintain. The company expects that it can

Aside from producing clean energy, the Oyster is designed to rely on water for hydraulics only.

This means it won’t disturb marine life. The device runs silently so you don’t have to worry about any annoying sounds near the shore. This turbine is still in its early stages of development so it is still limited to one location. However, the company aims to establish the Oyster in other countries such as Spain, Portugal, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, US, Chile and UK.

Wow! Twenty of these turbines generating power for 9000 homes can definitely replace the coal industry in the near future.

The company is currently finding ways to refine and improve its wave turbine’s design. It is also using its research and development team to upgrade its technologies for its intellectual property portfolio.

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Is It Really Possible to Get All of Our Energy From Renewable Sources?

Skeptics versus advocates of green energy have their arguments.

In 2017, researcher Benjamin Heard and colleagues published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews about their thoughts on full reliance on renewable energy. They believe that 100% renewable electrical systems is impossible to happen, doubtful that renewables-based systems can survive extreme weather conditions with low sun and low wind as well as skeptical about keeping the grid stable with so much variable generation.

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Points about battery or energy storage and the space to put up all the wind turbines and solar panels required to provide all our energy needs were also raised.

Ultimately, according to them, their evaluation was mostly based on objective criteria and none of the 24 studies they deliberated upon had provided convincing evidence that it is feasible to replace totally fossil carbon energy sources.

The research paper by Heard and colleagues made great points, but scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and collaborators have arguments to counter.

Hitting back to the points previously raised, they had to study hundreds of research papers to answer each of the issues that Heard and colleagues mentioned. The Finland-based researchers are confident that there are no roadblocks to a 100% renewable future.

“While several of the issues raised by the Heard paper are important, you have to realize that there are technical solutions to all the points they raised using today’s technology,” said the lead author Dr. Tom Brown of the

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in the response.

Adding to the response, Professor Christian Breyer of Lappeenranta University of Technology said, “Furthermore, these solutions are absolutely affordable, especially given the sinking costs of wind and solar power.”

A case cited by Brown in the study revealed that there is an answer to even the most complicated problem for renewables: low wind and solar period during the winter. The team provided studies of technical solutions like rotating grid stabilizer and electronics-based solutions that will be scalable in the future.

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The advocates of renewable energy went through different examples of best practice by grid operators to gather comprehensive answers to the skeptics.

From Denmark to Tasmania, they asked industry solutions currently being explored and implemented.

Professor Brian Vad Mathiesen of Aalborg University, who is part of the team, shared that there are some persistent myths that 100 percent renewable systems are not possible.

This is supported by Breyer who said in the response, “Our contribution deals with these myths one-by-one, using all the latest research. Now let’s get back to the business of modelling low-cost scenarios to eliminate fossil fuels from our energy system, so we can tackle the climate and health challenges they pose.”

So the short answer to the question, “Is it really possible to get all of our energy from renewable sources?” is yes.

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