News at your Fingertips in Sri Lanka

Curtin Colombo and IESL host panel discussion

0 35

Curtin Colombo, in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion titled ‘Energy Landscape of Sri Lanka: Transition Pathways’. The event took place recently, at the IESL Wimalasurendra Auditorium in Colombo.

Hosting the event, Curtin Colombo showcased the campus’s strengths and commitment to addressing important issues. In addition, it demonstrated Curtin Colombo as a forward-thinking, engaged and knowledge hub for discussions.

Collaborating with IESL, Curtin Colombo emphasised its strong connections with professional bodies and industry, highlighting relevance to the local engineering and energy sectors.

The discussion addressed the current and future energy needs of Sri Lanka, exploring various pathways for energy transition in the country. An introductory presentation explained the basic principles of energy and thermodynamics in an accessible manner, setting the stage for a more detailed exploration of renewable energy options available to Sri Lanka.

Key topics covered the potential and current status of solar power in Sri Lanka, along with its benefits and challenges; examination of potential wind energy sites, existing projects, and their advantages and hurdles.

A review of Sri Lanka’s existing hydropower infrastructure, future potential, and the environmental impacts and benefits and the role of biomass as a renewable energy source, its availability, and sustainability.

In addition to exchanging views on these renewable energy sources, the panel analysed critical aspects of energy storage, distribution and integration with the electricity grid. Sustainable building practices and community energy solutions were also highlighted, in addition to focusing on how buildings can be designed or retrofitted for greater energy efficiency.

Addressing topics such as sustainable building practices and community energy solutions demonstrated Curtin Colombo’s focus on practical, real-world applications of academic knowledge.

The event features distinguished panelists, including professors from Curtin University and other institutions. These speakers showcased the high-calibre academic network and international perspectives, underlining Curtin Colombo’s global connections and outlook.

Presenting views were Professor Sumedha Rajakaruna, Professor at Curtin University, expert in renewable energy sources, energy storage, and smart energy systems and Professor Sambit Datta, Dean International of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Curtin University, specialising in computational design and spatio-temporal interactions between distributed energy sources and buildings.

Adding to the analysis were Professor Vishnu Pareek, Dean of Engineering at Curtin University and President of the Australian Council of Engineering Deans, with expertise in energy foundations, thermodynamics and fluid flow and Professor Asanka Rodrigo,  Professor in Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa and former Director General of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority. Senior Professor Professor Janaka Ekanayake at the University of Peradeniya, with extensive experience in renewable energy generation and integration and Professor Rahula Attalage Pro Vice Chancellor Academic at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and Professor Emeritus at the University of Moratuwa.

The post Curtin Colombo and IESL host panel discussion appeared first on DailyNews.

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.