Eminent speakers tackle energy challenges and provide solutions to climate change at Gulf Eco Conference 2013

In view of this trend Dr. Rania Ahmed Abd El-Wahab, Researcher, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Eqypt kickstarted the first session of Day 2 of the Gulf Eco Conference 2013 titled Solutions to Energy Challenges by tapping into the potential of solar energy as a new tool for organic agriculture.

The first session of the second day was chaired by Mr. Ali bin Amir Al Kayumi, Director General of the Nature Conservancy, Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs and co-chaired by Eng. Hilal bin Sultan Al Shekeili, Director of Climate Affairs, Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs

With Oman undergoing population growth, increasing housing demands and decreasing energy resources, the solution as to whether the future generation can expect adequate buildings was presented by the Eco House team of the German University of Technology in Oman, who ventured into the concept of zero energy building in Oman and the promise that it holds for residential purposes through a case study of The First Zero Energy Building for Oman.

Growing energy needs coupled with increasing carbon footprints leading to negative global warming impacts calls for efficient energy solutions in order to carry out industrial activities while at the same time curbing green house gas emissions. Taking cue from this, Mr. Narendran, Board Member, Scalene Research Institute, India guided attendees through the process of producing Energy using the SERIGAS and SPARSE Technologies.

Aiming to reduce its dependency on the oil and gas sector and increase the proportion of renewable energy in total power production, Oman is turning towards new energy sources that are locally available, renewable, and environmentally friendly, particularly solar power source options. Through his topic Solar Electricity in Oman, Dr. Hussein A Kazem, Chair of Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology Research Group, Sohar University, Oman explained why the current time is the most opportune one for the country to invest in solar energy.

Following him, Dr. Syham Bentouati, Head of New Technology Implementation in PDO shared the energy conservation and solar energy practices followed by PDO.

The second session of Day 2 titled Climate Change and Environment, chaired by Dr. Hussein A Kazem, Chair of Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology Research Group, Sohar University, Oman and co-chaired by Mr. Said bin Nasser Al Abdaly, Director of Environment and Climate Affairs in Al Wasta Governorate, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, began with Dr. Salim Al Hatroshi, Head, Department of Geography, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman analysing climate change patterns by explaining the mechanisms of rainfall variability & its impact on water resources in Oman.

Mr. Ken du Vall, President & COO, Lighthouse R&D Enterprises Inc. expanded upon a suggested role for Oman Ocean observing systems in sustainable and safe maritime operations and development. He also touched upon the Lighthouse proposal to create a center - operating directly in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and Communication's proposed Hazard Monitoring Center - to provide powerful new tools that will greatly enhance the Sultanate of Oman's marine monitoring and modeling capabilities, the goal being to house, in a single location, datasets and models that will help Omanis manage and maintain their marine environment and Oman's vital resources for generations to come.

Besides meeting energy challenges, Oman will tackle the challenges of fast paced development through the incorporation of sound environmental policies in both the public and private sector, which will allow the country to develop in a sustainable manner. Mr. David G. Nahmad, Senior expert, Ray International, USA shared his expertise from an Environmental Engineering point of view through a case study of the Oil sludge treatment 2011-2013

Focusing on the pressing issue of climate change and its effect on Oman, Dr. Mushtaque Ahmed, Director, Center for Environmental Studies and Research (CESAR), Sultan Qaboos University, Oman highlighted the importance of the country adopting a more focused approach to the same and how the National Action Plan should focus on tackling the threats posed by climate change on the various sectors of the national economy.

Following him, Mr. Ryan Smyth, Regional Director of EcoNomics, WorleyParsons, Oman gave attendees a brief outlook on EcoNomics, a service which embeds profitable sustainability into all aspects of the project delivery life cycle, including energy issues.

Bringing the second day of the Conference to an end, Mr. Said Khalfan AL- Mashrafi, Director of Tourism Product Development, Ministry of Tourism highlighted the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism in bringing about Responsible Tourism Development in Oman including recent ecotourism projects undertaken by the Ministry. The Gulf Eco Conference 2013 is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and organized by OITE Conferences.