The Energy Research Institute@NTU is the latest broad-based, multidisciplinary initiative to combat global climate change.
With Singapore gearing up to be a global hub for clean energy, the launch of the Energy Research Institute@NTU (ERI@N) is a welcome development marking the university's commitment to addressing complex global energy challenges.
Encompassing a cluster of up to six research centres and institutes, ERI@N is scheduled to open in July 2009. It will serve as a think-tank and incubator for innovative ideas as it brings together the world's scientists, engineers and professionals to collaborate across scientific disciplines and promote energy-related solutions and policies.
According to NTU Provost Prof Bertil Andersson, the search for new energy sources and improving energy efficiency are growing apace. These times of economic and political uncertainty have also drawn attention to energy supplies, their security and their impact on societies.
"At NTU, we need to prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead and build on our undisputed research strengths, especially in engineering," said Prof Andersson. "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."
First $60 million research centre
The first centre to be set up under ERI@N is the Centre for Sustainable Energy Research (CESR). Among the areas it will study are advanced fuel cell technnology, charge storage, wind and tidal energy, and smart buildings. Currently housed at the NTU Research TechnoPlaza, CESR is established with an initial investment of S$60 million jointly funded by NTU, the Economic Development Board, and private sector investors. It will draw upon the participation of more than 150 researchers, including 40 professors, 40 research fellows and associates, and 75 graduate students.
Over the next two years, five more research centres will be set up to launch investigations into bioenergy, energy materials, energy-efficient construction materials and building design, energy efficiency for maritime and port applications, and energy economics and security.
"We adopt an interdisciplinary approach for our research as we believe there is no one-size-fits-all solution," said Dr Subodh Mhaisalkar, Co-Director of ERI@N. "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."
Drawing on NTU's global network of partners, the institute is currently in talks with University of California, Berkeley, and Imperial College London to pursue joint projects. It is also working with multinational companies and key industry partners such as Bosch, Rolls-Royce, Vestas and Atlantis.
Following the launch of ERI@N at NTU, an inaugural Annual Workshop on Energy Research was held. The two-day event on 2 and 3 June featured a panel of renowned speakers that included Prof James Barber from Imperial College London, Prof Gehan Amaratunga from University of Cambridge, Prof Lynden Archer from Cornell University, and Prof Ramesh Ramamoorthy from University of California, Berkeley.