In the advent of fine advances for energy conservation and sustainability, the Philippines is aiming to reduce its CO2 emissions by 70 per cent in 2030. The Newton Agham Programme, for its part, places the improvement of energy security at the forefront of priority areas for research and innovation.
The research project of Dr Donnabelle Balela of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and Dr Mohamed Mamlouk of Newcastle University (NCL) surveys the vital issue on energy security. This CHED-Newton Agham Institutional Links project was awarded to UPD and NCL in 2017 and focuses on the development of affordable electrolyser technology for energy storage.
As part of the project’s strategic aims, UPD and NCL organised the CHED-Newton Agham Symposium on Materials for Energy Applications 2018 last 14-15 August at the Balay Kalinaw in UP Diliman, Quezon City. In attendance were scientists, faculty members, and academics from fields of chemical engineering to materials science and engineering.
The two-day symposium brought together key researchers from different institutions including the Ateneo de Manila University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños to deliver their own studies through panel discussions. The presentations served as a platform for research dissemination on different approaches to the science of energy storage device.
Dr Balela, UP Engineering Associate Professor and Head of the Sustainable Electronic Materials Group, opened the event and emphasised the value of clean renewable energy in the country. “The large upfront cost for the installation of renewable energy and the intermittency of these renewables are the major challenges that require innovative and advanced solutions,” Dr Balela mentioned in her remarks.
On exhibit was a display of Poster Presentations on different researches on the same theme of electrochemistry, electrolyser, and electroanalysis authored by participating students and early career researchers.
A new batch of CHED-Newton Institutional Links grantees are expected to be awarded in November of this year. For more information, please visit our website.