1 minute read
the wind
from 2012-03 Sydney (1)
by Indian Link
“I’ve been inside and next to operational turbines, they emit noise – this is true. But I can tell you that beyond a distance of 200300m, the noise is difficult to pick up even if you focussed on nothing else. Over 1km, there is no noise”
“is that people who have wind turbines on their properties don’t complain, yet their neighbours do!” He attributes this to envy that arises from the ‘missed opportunity’ syndrome.
While the CWF experience was a true eye opener in many ways, Shah is not totally convinced that wind and solar are the only solutions for long-term renewable energy. Modern consumption trends, Shah forecasts, are unsustainable. “Without innovation in energy efficiency, the demand for energy would be so great that we’d need thousands of wind turbines and solar farms,” he pointed out.
“In comparison, a handful of gas or nuclear power stations would satisfy the demand over a smaller land footprint,” he stated. “Accidents will always occur but we need to be smart about how we mitigate the risks. It’s about developing an attitude toward continuous learning and improvement. I get excited every time I think of the opportunities available for someone wanting to take on an enterprising adventure.”
Shah believes that steady government policy rather than the current “on-again/off-again” approach is essential to stabilise and fuel the sector. “There needs to be strong vision and leadership to get us to our goals,” he stated.
Shah, who has a degree in civil engineering and a Masters in structural engineering and project management, is currently enrolled in AGSM’s executive MBA programme which he hopes to complete by 2014. Shah has previously worked as trainee surveyor at City of Sydney council. He is the founding chairman of Limelight - a graduate forum at Aurecon, and was nominated for Consult Australia’s ‘Future Leader Award’ in 2010.
“The outlook for engineering graduates is extremely bright,” he said, “and I for one certainly hope to make the most of the professional opportunities presented by my parents and employer.”
