Professor Yutao Wang
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University
Title:
Ecological Capital: Concept, Measurement and Governance
Abstract:
Nature as an important capital is essential for human sustainable development, it provides not only direct products, but also indirect services. In this lecture, concept, evaluation methods and policy instruments on ecological capital would be introduced together with a few case studies. It would also draw existing challenges in current research and identify potential gaps for future research.
Short Bio:
Yutao Wang is a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University. He is currently serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Cleaner Production, the Deputy Director of Fudan Tyndall Center, and the Deputy Director of Industrial Ecology Committee of Ecological Society of China. Prior to that, he had performed research at leading research institutions such as the Oak Ridge National Lab, the University of Tennessee, Lund University, and Shandong University. He has research interests on climate change, cleaner production, industrial ecology, and ecological capital. He has been awarded the Newton Advanced Fellowship by British Academy.
Professor Ir. Dr. Sharifah R. Wan Alwi
Process Systems Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Research Institute for Sustainable Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Title:
Centralised Large Scale Water Demand Planning and Management Across Industrial Sites
S.R. Wan Alwi1,2* and co author Z. Abd Manan1,2
1Process Systems Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Research Institute for Sustainable Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
2School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Abstract:
Water is extensively used in agriculture, industry and domestic sectors worldwide. Clean water supply is becoming increasingly scarce due to rising water demand as a result of growing global population, rapid industrialisation and widespread water pollution. Even though water conservation through behavioural change can be achieved at no cost, its scale and impact can be limited due to the challenges of managing human behaviour. Engineering efficient water utilisation systems via proper planning, design and management can help minimise water usage more sustainably, and contribute to achieving water security. Grey water reuse has long been introduced, while systematic techniques to maximise water recovery within a facility has been established via methods such as Water Pinch Analysis or mathematical modelling. Water minimisation can be effectively achieved by holistically exploring water minimisation options such as elimination, reduction, reuse/recycling, outsourcing and regeneration according to the Water Management Hierarchy. In this lecture, a framework for the centralised planning and design of large scale water exchange across multiple industrial sites is introduced to holistically and efficiently manage water demand and address issue of water supply scarcity. The mechanism, business model, economics, opportunities as well as challenges of large scale water exchange across total site are addressed to ensure its practical and cost-effective implementation.
Short Bio:
Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi is the Director of Process Systems Engineering Centre (PROSPECT) of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She has been extensively involved in more than 80 R & D and consultancy projects involving various industries and government agencies, and has trained engineers from more than 200 companies in the field of sustainable systems planning, design and engineering. She specialises in process systems engineering with emphasis on resource conservation. Sharifah is currently the Associate Editor for Journal of Cleaner Production, and an Editorial Board member for Applied Thermal Engineering Journal and the International Journal of Higher Education and Sustainability. She has more than 200 publications, filed for 14 patents, 22 copyrights and developed 5 software products. Sharifah is a co-founder of Optimal Systems Engineering (OPTIMISE), a UTM Spin-off company. She has received numerous international awards such as the Germany Green Talents Award (2009), the IChemE Highly Commended Sir Frederick Warner Prize (2011), the ASEAN Young Scientist and Technologist Award 2014, the Malaysia Young Scientist Award 2015, the Most Exalted Order of Sarawak Medal (2015), the Runner-up for ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women (2016), the Malaysia Research Star Award (2016 and 2018) and Top Research Scientist Malaysia (2018). She has served as the Chairman for Malaysia IChemE Young Engineer Group (YEG), and is a member of Young Scientist Network, Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM).
Professor Dr. Zdravko Kravanja
Professor of Chemical Engineering
University of Maribor | UM · Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Title:
Sustainable Systems Synthesis and Optimization for Efficient Utilization of Resources and Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Zdravko Kravanja, Lidija Čuček, Andreja Nemet, Žan Zore
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Abstract:
Among the main problems of the modern society are depletion of resources, waste management, linear supply chains and unsustainability of systems in general. One of the ultimate goals from the systems viewpoint would be to develop and implement a holistic approach to sustainable systems synthesis and optimization in order to increase efficiency of resources utilization, while simultaneously mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as significantly lower waste disposal. Thermodynamic analysis of European Union energy sectors will be presented to show energy saving potential as well as potential for related GHG emissions reduction. The role of mathematical programming (MP) approach to systems synthesis and optimization will be discussed in order to design more advanced systems with respect to achieving significant utility and, hence, emission reduction. Two aspects of MP will be discussed, the first one being the underlying software development, especially the development of mixed-integer programming process synthesizer MIPSYN-Global, and the second one MP applications for which different case studies will be shown to illustrate the efficiency of applying MP in regard to design more sustainable systems, including the synthesis of continental renewable-based supply networks for producing food, biofuels and electricity, applied to European Union. The results from thermodynamic analysis and example problems clearly indicate great potential for GHG emission reduction and that the necessary transition away from fossil-based production could be carried out in a sustainable way in relatively short period of time.
Short Bio:
Zdravko Kravanja is a Professor and the Dean in the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Maribor, Slovenia.
He joined the university after several years in industry (1981-1985). He was Visiting Researcher (1988-89) and Visiting Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, US (1997), and Guest Professor at Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Lyngby on several occasions (from 1998 on). He was awarded with Pannonia Award in 2015 and Slovenian state price - Zois award for excellence in science in 2017. He was President of the Slovenian Academic Association for Engineering and Natural Sciences (SATENA) (2010-2011). He has recently become an associate member of Slovenian Academy of Engineering. His research over the years has been devoted mainly to the development of algorithmic techniques, strategies, and computerised tools for sustainable Process Systems Engineering, including Heat and Water Integration. Together with Professor Grossmann, he has developed a unique mixed-integer process synthesizer shell called MIPSYN. Recently, his research has been oriented towards the synthesis of sustainable systems, e.g. renewable based biofuel supply networks, using multi-objective optimization and monetary based sustainability measurements, sustainability profit and sustainability net present value. He has (co)-authored around 170 publications in scientific journals.