POWER & WATER LEADERS
Battery | Coal | Co-Gen | Cables | Grid | Electricals | Energy | Generators | Nuclear | Power Plants | | Rentals | T&D | Turbines | Utility Chemicals | Controls | Desalination | EDR | Filtration | Finance | Membranes | NF | Plumbing | Pumps | Pipes | RO | Storage | Valves
Jonathan McKeown
Chief Executive
Australian Water Association
The Latest Updates nVent Emerges from Spin-off as Leading Provider of Electrical Protection, Connection Products
An Engineer’s Guide to Finding New Jobs:
Engineered Polymer Membranes Could Be an Alternative for Water Treatment
Stop Doing These Common Job Search Mistakes
IDA International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference Explores Water Reuse Regulation Frameworks, That Are “Making Every Drop Count”
What New Engineers Without Experience Should Write on Their Resumes
India Increases Its 2022 Renewable Energy Target By 28%
Here’s How Engineers Can Appear Qualified for Their New Job
3 Factors That Will Impress Your Future Engineering Employer
JULY 2018 ISSUE NO. 015
Contents How Can A Graduate Degree Drive Your Career Forward?
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EU Reinforces Position at The Forefront of Global Energy Transformation, Says IRENA
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Making Australia’s Water Management Sustainable
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Over 70 Million Battery-Electric Vehicles Will Be Sold in 2032, says Information Trends
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nVent Emerges from Spin-off as Leading Provider of Electrical Protection, Connection Products
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India Increases Its 2022 Renewable Energy Target By 28%
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What New Engineers Without Experience Should Write on Their Resumes
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World Nuclear Association Will Support the 24th World Energy Congress to Highlight the Prominence of Nuclear Energy
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Engineered Polymer Membranes Could Be an Alternative for Water Treatment
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Changing Careers? Here’s How Engineers Can Appear Qualified for Their New Job
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3 Factors That Will Impress Your Future Engineering Employer
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Low Winds? New Turbines Still Rate High Efficiency
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This System Could Cut the Cost of Solar Power Generation Into Half
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MD & CEO of DEWA Strengthens Ties with Singaporean Consul-General
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IDA International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference Explores Water Reuse Regulation Frameworks, Financing Trends, and Technology Advancements That Are “Making Every Drop Count”
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What Employers Look For When Hiring Fresh Engineering Graduates
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Polycera Membranes Welcomes Richard J. Heckmann To Its Board Of Directors
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Hanergy Launches Next-Generation Thin-Film Solar Charging Pack and Thin-Film Solar Backpack
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International Desalination Association Establishes Honorary Council
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Can’t Land an Engineering Job? Stop Doing These Job Search Mistakes
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LEADING GLOBAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND INTEGRATED SUPPLIER CHINT is committed to providing the world with safe, reliable and stable electrical equipment and clean energy solutions. After more than 30 years of growth,CHINT has developed from Asia’s largest LV apparatus supplier to leading global electrical equipment and integrated supplier,with strength transformation,distribution to terminal consumpion. To date,with the annual sales revenue exceeding more than 6.7 billion euros and over 30,000 employees around the world,CHINT has provided reliable electrical equipment and solutions for more than 130 countries and regions worldwide as an active player of electric power construction in the global market.
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The Australian Water Association (AWA) is the peak national body for the water industry in Australia. Formed more than 50 years ago by a small group of water engineers, they aimed to share their experiences and learnings to strengthen the local water industry. Those founding members have witnessed the growth of the organisation, and the members it represents, into one of Australia. The Australian Water Association now represents more than 100 water utilities, products to the water industry, and 4,000 water professionals working within the industry. In this exclusive cover story featuring AWA’s Chief Executive, Jonathan McKeown, learn more about the association’s recent successes, what they provide their members with and the management behind AWA.
EDITOR’S NOTE
We have included several special features on the magazine such as the following: • nVent Emerges from Spin-off as Leading Provider of Electrical Protection, Connection Products • Engineered Polymer Membranes Could Be an Alternative for Water Treatment • IDA International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference Explores Water Reuse Regulation Frameworks, That Are “Making Every Drop Count” • India Increases Its 2022 Renewable Energy Target By 28% We also prepared helpful articles for engineers who are looking for new jobs. Find out how to appear qualified for the job you are applying for. Learn what are the three factors that will impress your future engineering employers and know what are the common job search mistakes you should stop doing. As for those without experience, don’t worry. You still have a chance of getting the job by reading our special article on what to put on your resumes. So go ahead, scroll through our pages and read the latest stories that put the spotlight on the power and water industries. Get updated with the news and be informed with our inspiring stories that are slowly changing the way we live today. Enjoy this month’s GineersNow: Power and Water Leaders.
Engr. Alice Hernandez Senior Editor-at-Large
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How Can A Graduate Degree Drive Your Career Forward? A master of science in engineering graduate shares her story. Are you thinking about boosting your career by undertaking graduate study? We spoke to Amani Alhammadi, who completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at American University of Sharjah in 2012. Amani shared with us what it is like to undertake a graduate program at AUS, and what difference a master’s degree has made to her engineering career.
What was the master’s degree that you completed at American University of Sharjah? I completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME). Why did you decide to pursue a master’s in engineering at the College of Engineering at American University of Sharjah?
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AUS is a leading university in the field of engineering, and it is well known for its practice of integrating research with education. It is also very focused on applied science and technology. I believe that AUS is the best environment to conduct research in the mechanical engineering field, as it fosters a sense of innovation.
What is your current position? What impact did your master’s degree have in getting you into that position? I am currently a senior electromechanical engineer. The education I received while studying a master’s at AUS has not only given me the right
tools to further progress my academic skills, but it has also undoubtedly prepared me for any future challenges I may face, and any endeavors I may choose to undertake during my career path. It has exposed me to the full range of mechanical engineering courses, all of which tended to reinforce and solidify my knowledge in the mechanical engineering fields. My AUS education has allowed me to apply the theoretical and practical part of my study to real-life aspects of my job. Moreover, the thesis part of my master’s degree formed the platform that I have built my research skills on. It enhanced my ability to conduct independent research, managing projects, designing and configuring mechanical systems, modelling and analyzing mechanical systems, and writing technical papers. The program also enhanced my personal effectiveness skills, such as initiative, flexibility, self-motivation, and my ability to work independently and under pressure.
Did anything surprise you about the master’s degree after you began taking classes?
Yes, I was surprised by the number of advanced courses offered in mechanical engineering, as well as the innovative facilities available through the College of Engineering. The variety of research areas and interests of the faculty members was also something that I did not expect.
What was the highlight of doing your master’s degree? The highlight was being able to conduct and defend independent research that resulted in a significant knowledge contribution to the field of mechanical engineering. Publishing the following two articles is something that I am very proud of: Thermodynamic Analysis of an Integrated Solar-Based Cooling System in UAE Evaluation of an Integrated PhotovoltaicThermal Option for HVAC Cooling System in UAE What would you say to somebody considering undertaking a master’s degree at the American University of Sharjah College of Engineering? Power & Water Leaders
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Studying a master’s degree at the College of Engineering at AUS is a great opportunity. It is a chance that one should not miss, as AUS is as a research-oriented university that follows a strategy of integrating theory and practice. This allows students great access to world-class research initiatives. The degree can equip students with a variety of practical and research skills to develop their individual academic and professional career, exposing them to the latest advances in engineering. The College of Engineering has all the required facilities that promote the learning process, such as highly innovative research centers and well-equipped laboratory facilities, providing hands-on learning. Moreover, the degree offers a variety of engineering disciplines that the student can choose from, complementing their areas of interest. The faculty at the College of Engineering are extremely friendly, encouraging and helpful. The faculty members offer not only academic advice, but also support students in making AUS their home.
Can you briefly describe your thesis? My thesis, entitled “Integrated renewable energy options for HVAC cooling systems”, is in the area of renewable energy and residential cooling systems. It is intended to solve problems related to the high cooling energy demand electrical grids, and environmental emissions associated with it. Five systems were developed in which fuels cells and solar energy collectors were integrated with absorption cooling systems for sustainable development. Thermodynamic analysis was carried out to study the performance of the integrated systems, considering the design parameters for a residential building in the UAE. The results showed a great opportunity for the integrated systems to replace or run in parallel with conventional cooling energy devices to achieve high performance cooling and lessen the environmental emissions, while providing the required cooling load. The College of Engineering at AUS currently offers eight engineering master’s programs, as well as a recently launch PhD in Engineering– Engineering Systems Management. To find out more about graduate programs offered through the College of Engineering at AUS, and to obtain information about how to apply to one of these programs, please visit www.aus.edu/cen
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Making Australia’s Water Management Sustainable Australia is the world’s driest continent and yet its development into one of the world’s most affluent and successful economies remains dependent on its smart and sustainable
water management. Over the past 30 years, we have evolved our economy through the successful development of agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and the services industries.
The economic contributions from these industries continues to fluctuate but the dependence on sustainable water management remains constant. The Australian economy continues to expand with a record breaking 26 years of continuous economic expansion. This is the longest period of economic growth without a recession for any OECD developed country. This equates to an average growth rate of 3.2% since 1991.
Australia’s economic growth continued through the Asian economic crisis of 1997-8; the US stock market correction of 2001; and the GFC in 2008-9. One major factor in Australia’s economic success has been the country’s ability to provide water to its expanding population and cities, its industries, and its export growth to the fast-developing Asian region. The Australian Water Association is the peak national body for the water industry in Australia.
Jonathan McKeown Chief Executive Australian Water Association
The Association’s own role and activities have expanded with the growing recognition of Australia’s water management expertise across the wider Indo-Pacific Region. The Australian Water Association was formed more than 50 years ago by a small group of water engineers seeking to share their experiences and learnings to strengthen the local water industry. Those founding members have witnessed the growth of the organisation, and the members it represents, into one of the largest and most influential industries in Australia. The Australian Water Association now represents more than 100 water utilities, 600 corporations supplying services and products to the water industry, and 4,000 water professionals working within the industry. It is an industry that is worth more than $120Billion per year and has become a major cornerstone of the Australia’s economic success. The Australian Water Association provides its members with three key benefits: 1. Information on market developments, technical and scientific innovations, and a forum for thought leadership on policy and advocacy matters. The Association has a series of printed and digital publications that are recognized amongst the leading water information platforms in the country. 2. Networking for the water industry to enable more effective business development between the private sector operators and suppliers, and the public-sector asset owners and research organisations. This networking is delivered across more than 150 events each year including the Association’s own annual International Conference and Exhibition – called ‘Ozwater’. This event alone attracts more than 4,000 participants and is the largest water event in the Southern Hemisphere. 3. Recognition for those individuals and organisations that help keep the Australian water industry on the leading edge of sustainable water management. The Association has its own national water awards that are presented at its annual Australian Water Awards Gala Dinner attracting over 1,000 people.
One of the strengths of the Australian Water Association’s network is that it includes the leading individual professionals and organisations from the water industry that supply the water services and management, the academic and scientific professionals undertaking water research, and the Government experts formulating water policy. It is a powerful and collegiate network that operates through the Australian Water Association. The impact of this collegiate network is felt well beyond the water industry players themselves as the Association addresses the water challenges and expectations of Australian water consumers and industries alike.
its offering to members. It has needed to adopt digital platforms to communicate with members and stakeholders whilst strengthening its professional delivery of industry events and member programs to assist members’ businesses to prosper both in Australia and in the Asian region. In delivering its services and advocacy the association has more than 300 elected representatives from the water industry actively involved in shaping its activities to ensure it remains anchored with what the members themselves are seeking. This is a key strength in its success because being a member driven organisation it capitalizes on the expertise of the industry itself and remains agile to the changing needs of members.
Both consumers and industries are changing how they operate, communicate, and how they expect economic and environmental sustainability in the management of water.
Some of the Associations recent successes include:
These challenges have required the Australian Water Association itself to transform how it operates and how it communicates with members and stakeholders. Over the past 5 years, the Association has clarified exactly what it offers members and the value of
Digital Publications for Australian water professionals with open and click through rates of between 33-40% utilized by up to 15,000 water professionals. Water Industry Events in both Australia and overseas that attract more than 10,000 participants each year.
Advocacy for Water Security for all Australians that produced Discussion Papers, seminars, and public debate on the changes needed to provide water security. International Program that links members to the delivery of Australia’s aid program and market opportunities across the Asian markets by taking more than 100 water companies from Australia on dedicated export market visits each year. Channeling Change Program to foster an Australian water industry that embraces diversity, inclusion and equality in all its forms. Infrastructure Projects promotion that include Discussion Papers on Alternative Financing Models for Water Infrastructure Projects; Australia’s current water security and sustainability has required significant national government investment and financial incentives to our State and Territory Governments. Investments were required in new water infrastructure (including desalination plants), the implementation of a National Water
Initiative, legislative reforms to create national competition policy, and the introduction of independent economic regulation to determine fair and reasonable water pricing. These reforms did not come easily. The political will to reform was directly linked to the impact of severe droughts that threatened Australia’s ability to survive. Put simply, from national adversity came much needed infrastructure investment, regulatory reform, and a new level of community support for reducing water consumption that drove new water efficiencies. The impact of drought has instilled ‘sustainability’ as a key community expectation relating to water management. The question is will it last? For Australia to maintain its economic competitive advantage we need to continue adopting new water technologies, improved water infrastructure developments and using alternative water sources. We need to invest in the design of the most sustainable management systems for both our surface and ground water assets underpinned by the world’s leading water research and science. It is these priority investments that will deliver
long term sustainability to Australia’s agricultural, industrial, and manufacturing industries whilst ensuring the livability in our cities and regional communities. A livability and lifestyle that is still the envy of other counties. A livability, enhanced by water technology, that attracts the best minds to provide the services of the next millennium. But most importantly, we need to constantly challenge the community to prioritize water as our most precious national asset by maintaining community debate about water’s alternative sources, technologies, ownership, and the true value of water.
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The Australian Water Association is managed by an elected Board with Chairman and honorary President, Francois Gouws who is Managing Director of Trility Limited that is Australia’s largest private sector operator of water treatment plants. The Association’s Chief Executive is Jonathan McKeown who joined the Association 5 years ago with a mandate of change to grow the Association’s activities, membership, and to modernize its operations. Introducing change is always challenging, but Jonathan’s business and management experience has smoothed the process whilst providing stable leadership. His management style is widely seen as open and engaging and is driven by his strong belief
in nurturing staff talent, maximizing member engagement, and applying innovation and creativity to all that the Association delivers. His passion and belief in the water industry and its vital role in Australia and across the Asian Region becomes apparent quickly. Prior to joining the Association, Jonathan was based in Asia for 7 years working on productivity improvement projects across the region. He is a qualified commercial lawyer who has pursued a business career with responsibility for staff and offices across Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
With his extensive project management experience in manufacturing, services, infrastructure, water, and agriculture he has managed the Association to become a more relevant and contemporary organisation for its members. Having also worked for member organisations in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors he has developed skills in stakeholder management, advocacy, media, and staff management. All skills he has been able to direct to his task to continue the evolution of the Australian Water Association. In his spare time Jonathan is a keen gardener, collects art, and travels extensively.
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nVent Emerges from Spin-off as Leading Provider of Electrical Protection, Connection Products “Being a separate company means we will be highly focused on mission-critical solutions that safeguard the energy flowing through our customers’ facilities,” said Beth Wozniak, CEO of nVent. solutions that safeguard the energy flowing through our customers’ facilities,” said Beth Wozniak, CEO of nVent. “The spin-off from Pentair also will allow nVent to make investments that are more responsive to the market.”
Clean water and electricity are both essentials of modern life, but from a business standpoint, they’re distinctly different. After all, the global market for electrical connection and protection is growing like never before, providing opportunities for a company focused on mission-critical solutions. That’s a major reason why Pentair recently split its portfolio in two, creating a new company — nVent — exclusively focused on offering electrical systems and components that connect and protect vital energy assets. Pentair also became a pure-play water-solutions company, specializing in sustainable fluid-processing applications. While the nVent name is new, its electrical brands are well-known to commercial builders, energy companies, data-center operators and industrial producers worldwide. The lineup includes electrical enclosures, server cabinets, thermal management products, and electrical and fastening solutions. “Being a separate company means we will be highly focused on mission-critical
nVent debuted as a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange on May 1 and boasts $2.1 billion in annual revenue. Nearly 9,000 employees worldwide are responsible for the design, manufacture and distribution of solutions including Hoffman electrical enclosures and heating solutions marketed under the Raychem brand. The nVent name, Wozniak explained, reflects the inventive legacy of the company’s collective brands, some of which have been sold for a century. Combined, nVent’s three business segments hold more than 400 patents. The enclosures segment is a leading global provider of electrical and electronics protection products and services and includes the Hoffman and Schroff brands. nVent enclosures offer two-pronged protection: safeguarding electrical equipment from the operating environment and people from electrical hazards. The Hoffman line includes steel, stainless steel and nonmetallic enclosures, modular enclosure solutions and industrial cooling systems. The nVent Schroff brand includes server cabinets, data-center cooling solutions, power supplies, sub-racks and cases. The thermal management segment consists of heat-tracing solutions and complete heat management systems. nVent Raychem solutions include heat
tracing for pipes in industrial plants, buildings and infrastructure, heating system components, fire-rated wiring cables, floor-heating cables and mats, and thermostats and controls. nVent Tracer offerings include turnkey heat management services, including design, engineering project management and construction services. The electrical and fastening solutions segment comprises components used to fix, fasten and protect cable and wire systems. The nVent Erico brand offers components for electrical protection, rail and transit connectivity, telecom installation, and utility and industrial facility electrical systems. The nVent Caddy brand includes fixing, fastening and support products for electrical installation, seismic and fire protection, data communications and heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. The lineup of brands is poised for growth, especially as the company can increase the speed at which it brings new offerings to market. What the innovative lineup of electrical solutions provides customers are safer electrical systems that help enhance productivity and reduce the cost of ownership. Dedicated to understanding customers, the new nVent can fully focus its talent and efforts on connecting and protecting electrical systems across the globe.
What New Engineers Without Experience Should Write on Their Resumes Here are some things you can do to improve your resume so you can present yourself well even if you lack work experience. So you’re ready to get your dream job, and you’re super excited to start writing that resume. There’s just one problem: You have zero work experience. Whether you’re shifting into a new career unrelated to your previous field, or a fresh grad with no internships to write on your resume, what can you do to look as qualified as possible? Here are some things you can do to improve your resume so you can present yourself well even if you lack experience. 28
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Add Relevant and Transferable Skills Many resumes begin with relevant work experience or for fresh graduates, education followed by relevant experience. If this is not your strong suit, write down your relevant skills. These are the skills you already have that you feel are suited for the job you are applying for.
Try to analyze the skills you have developed while in school doing academic projects. Are you a leader of an organization in your school? The head programmer in your team projects? Are you well known for being able to deliver a presentation well in class? Try writing all your skills down and summarize them at the beginning of your resume, or after the education section.
Academic Projects Every engineering student has experienced toiling over loads of projects. These are important and should definitely be included in your resume. If you have any other side projects that you’ve done outside school that you feel gave you the skills to perform the job you’re applying for well, then add them. You can present this well in your resume under a “Projects” section. Here, you will write about your project the same way you
would for work experiences. Examples of these could be volunteering at a local charity, event organizing, or even commissioned projects.
A Good and Specific Cover Letter What makes a good and specific cover letter? Its contents are brief, yet complete and gives you a strong presence in a positive way. Put all your writing skills into this one, have it read twice or thrice by people you trust. Find a way to connect your passions and life experiences with the company, then explain how this will keep you enthusiastically on your feet once you are hired. These are just a few tips to help you with your job hunting journey. Try to apply some of these tips if not all, then have a friend, family member or professor proofread it for you. I hope this helps. Goodluck! Power & Water Leaders
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Engineered Polymer Membranes Could Be an Alternative for Water Treatment This approach limits the ability to remove or recover dissolved species based on their chemical identity. Freshwater resources around the world are running low in supply. Water scarcity affects an estimate of 1.9 billion people and 2.1 billion people live with drinking water services that are not safely managed according to the United Nations. This is the reason why many scientists are looking for new and efficient ways to make the most of non traditional sources. This includes sea water, brackish water and wastewater. Polymer membranes have aided water treatments by acting as a filter to desalinated and selectively remove contaminants from different water sources. However, their 30
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selectivity is still a significant challenge when it comes to filtering chemical properties, which could be a potential risk to the environment and human health. Chemical and biomolecular engineers from the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University have studied self-assembled block polymer membranes, which allow for both customizable and uniform pore sizes, as a platform for water treatment systems. Their study has determined that the platform has the potential to advance water treatment technologies.
“Most state-of-the-art membranes for water treatment are designed to let water pass through while filtering contaminants,” said William Phillip, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Notre Dame. “This approach limits the ability to remove or recover dissolved species based on their chemical identity. The exciting thing about selfassembled block polymer membranes is that you can engineer the nanostructure and pore wall chemistry of the membrane through the design of the block polymer molecules. This capability has the potential to open up a variety of new separation mechanisms that can isolate species based on chemical identity, which in turn could help to enable decentralized reuse of wastewater.” Phillip along with the research team focused on block polymer membranes because of its distinct nanostructures and functionality. They molecularly engineered the chemical properties of the polymer to create large areas of high-performance membrane, reduce pore size and design multifunctional pore wall
chemistries for solute-specific separation. The membranes can be customized depending on the water source and treatment needed. The membranes that are more selective and more resilient to certain exposures like chlorine or boric acid as well as less prone to collecting unwanted properties could improve the treatment in various ways. They could reduce the number of filtration passes that is needed for irrigation, control concentrations of chlorine into the system to help forestall effects of biofouling and reduce chemical demands for membrane cleaning, thus reducing the operating costs and environmental impact. Transitioning this technology from the laboratory setting to practice has its challenges as well which will need to be addressed in the coming years. However, the researchers are hopeful that the transition is possible since there are several techniques used to generate self-assembled block polymers are consistent with the current membrane fabrication process.
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3 Factors That Will Impress Your Future Engineering Employer No, you don’t need any party tricks to get the engineering job of your dreams. Learning to market yourself when you’re face-to-face with your future engineering employer might be harsh. It might even be too much for some people to handle. But if you’ve got what it takes but are not sure if you can land the job, learning these 3 insider “wow” factors might help you impress your future employer.
Confidence Just being prepared and having ample knowledge what you’re signing up for is a good way to pass of good vibes to your interviewer. It’s one of the most important thing that employers look at when hiring someone.
Communication Thought organization is one of the things that you might be overlooking when you go to an interview. Proper pace, relevant presentations, and a good flow of speech is a good way to get that job.
Time Management Showing them how you’ll solve a complex task step-by-step and in an organized way will surely land a lasting impression when it comes to your time management skills. It’s showing them that you can plan ahead for anything they can throw at you. If you make sure that you have these 3 factors when you go to an interview, you’ll be able to get that job.
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This System Could Cut the Cost of Solar Power Generation Into Half Researchers integrated the generator and the storage system into one. Storage has always been the problem of generating power from the sun. Harvesting light through the solar panels has improved significantly over the years, but to where the energy will be stored is another matter. Researchers from The University of Texas at 34
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Austin have developed a single-system solar technology which somehow solves this problem. It is said to cut clean energy costs into half. Called the M4 Inverter, or the modular, multifunction, multiport and medium-voltage utility-scale silicon carbide solar inverters, the
technology is the brainchild of solar experts from UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering. The idea is to produce electricity by integrating the entire solar power generation and storage into one single system, while converting direct current output of solar panels to medium-voltage alternating current.
School, believes that the M4 inverter will create efficiencies in a variety of ways.
Currently, solar energy systems are composed of bulky and expensive storage batteries. This is eliminated in the new system, making the solar power generation cheaper and less spacious.
“These functionalities will ensure the power grids of tomorrow can host a higher percentage of solar energy. By greatly reducing the impact of the intermittence of solar energy on the grid and providing grid-governing support, the M4 Inverter provides the same resilience as any fossil-fuelpowered grid.”
New silicon carbide power electronics switchers are used in the M4 inverter to achieve the level of efficiency required in the conversion of AC to DC. No transformers are also required for this new system. More selling points of this system include its modular building block and its power backup. This allows the reduction of manufacturing costs and higher reliability during power cuts. Lead principal investigator of his project Alex Huang, who is also an electrical and computer engineering professor and director of the Semiconductor Power Electronics Center in the Cockrell
“Our solution to solar energy storage not only reduces capital costs, but it also reduces the operation cost through its multifunctional capabilities,” Huang said.
The Department of Energy has awarded $3 million to the UT researchers to develop the system, only one of the nine projects who received from the total $20 million set by the government agency for early-stage solar power electronics technologies. This is part of its goal to cut in half the cost of electricity for a solar system by 2030. Researchers at UT will partner with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Toshiba International, Wolfspeed and Opal-RT, as well as Argonne National Lab.
IDA International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference Explores Water Reuse Regulation Frameworks, Financing Trends, and Technology Advancements That Are “Making Every Drop Count” The 2018 International Desalination Association (IDA) International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference: Making Every Drop Count, opened today in Valencia, Spain.
The 2018 International Desalination Association (IDA) International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference: Making Every Drop Count, opened today in Valencia, Spain. “We have gathered over 180 delegates from 29 countries, representing a collective recognition that water reuse and recycling policy and technologies are evermore critical to meeting growing global freshwater needs.
The importance of this industry, and the importance of interactions that bring together public and private sector stakeholders to discuss policy and technology, are imperative. At IDA, we aim to create more interactions, networking and knowledge sharing opportunities to nurture global dialogue on water reuse and recycling,” said Shannon McCarthy, IDA Secretary General.
Mr. Miguel Angel Sanz, President of IDA, greeted delegates in an inspirational welcome during the Opening Ceremony. “IDA is committed to water supply sustainability, and we trust in water reuse as a complementary solution to desalination to address the problems of water scarcity,” he said. “I am proud that IDA selected the wonderful city of Valencia as the location for our second international conference on water reuse and recycling because Spain is a leader in Europe and in the world, recycling on average over 13% of the treated waste waters with some cities and regions recycling even more than 90%.” Honorable officials participating in the Opening Ceremony included HE Fatma Awale, Minister of Water of Mombasa, Kenya; Traci Minimide, COO of LA Sanitation; and Ms. Elena Cebrian Calvo, Counsellor of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development from Generalitat Valenciana. Professor Emeritus Rafael Mujeriego of the Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain, delivered a Keynote Address, and in addition, Dr. Domingo Zarzo, President of AEDyR, the Spanish Desalination and Reuse Association and an affiliate of IDA, which collaborated on the presentation of the conference, took part in the Opening Ceremony. In providing the conference overview, Technical Program Co-chairs Dr. Mike Dixon and Mr. Borja Blanco, both IDA Directors, noted that, “This conference is both technical and policy focused. It emphasizes the treatment technologies and processes, regulatory needs and financing/legal frameworks needed to expand the adoption of reuse and recycling to ‘Make Every Drop Count’.” Day One of the Technical Program began with two lively panel discussions and a plenary session. Moderated by Mr. Carlos Cosín, IDA Officer and CEO of Almar Water Solutions, the first panel “The Big Debate: Water Reuse Regulations in Europe, USA and Asia” examined regulations that cover the various uses, requirements and advantages in using water reuse technology to meet growing water needs for agriculture, industry and urban uses, as well as aquifer recharge, to
offset water needs. “The regulatory frameworks have been critical in areas where reuse is today a reality, such as in the state of California (USA), Israel, Spain and Singapore. To chart prominent growth in new geographies, a clear framework to advance and develop the implementation of reuse is needed. We should extend current regulations to include new categories and uses to cover new applications. Irrigation is now extensively covered, but industrial and direct and indirect potable use need to become easier to implement. There are credible and transparent local regulation frameworks such as Title 22 in California that could be considered as a baseline that could help to develop reuse in new areas,” noted Mr. Cosín. Panelists were Mrs. Conchita Marcuello, Adjoint to the Deputy Director for Water Planning and Sustainable Water Use – Water General Directorate Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Environment; Ms. Traci Minamide, COO, LA Sanitation, City of Los Angeles; Mr. Maurice Neo, Director, Water Reclamation (Network), Singapore Public Utilities Board; and Mr. Mehul V. Patel, Director of Water Production, Orange County Water District. “The Water Regulations Reuse panel is an intriguing way to learn how issues and solutions to regulations regarding reuse are dealt with in different parts of the world. It allows us to see our common concerns and solutions to potential obstacles that can come with reuse regulations,” Mr. Patel commented. In the second panel, “Pricing Water Security and Enhancing Practical Financing Tools for Reclaimed Wastewater Reuse,” speakers discussed specific approaches to pricing water security through the diversification of water supplies and the tools they use to finance and develop water-reuse infrastructure projects to meet irrigation and urban needs, and other water requirements. Moderators were Dr. Gonzalo Delacámara, Senior Research Fellow and Coordinator of Water Economics at IMDEA Water Research Foundation, and Dr. Eduardo Orteu, Head of Support Unit and Responsible for the
International Affairs Service at the Spanish Water Directorate. Panelists were Mr. Zael G. Sanz Uriarte, Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist, World Bank Group, Washington, DC; Mr. Xavier Leflaive, Water Team Leader, Environment Directorate, OECD; and Mr. Víctor Arroyo, Acting Director of Knowledge Management in Water at CAF. Dr. Delacámara noted, “The discussion showed the relevance of a two-fold discussion. On one side is the creation of the necessary setup to guarantee financial resources for upfront capital investments for reclaimed water reuse, which also includes, in some countries, strengthening the wastewater treatment capacity. This requires striking the right balance between grants from the public sector and multilateral donors and new public-private partnerships, trying to avoid that public investment, albeit important, crowds out private inputs. “On the other side, in order to ensure the operation (including maintenance and asset replacement) of those plants, it is critical to redesign incentives. This mainly calls for new pricing schemes towards longterm water security, emphasizing on the diversification of water supply sources and enhanced resilience. It also calls for the acknowledgement of new revenue streams, such as those stemming from biosolids and biogas. Funding, financing and pricing need to align individual interests and collective goals, i.e., ensuring water security within a climate change adaptation context,” he added. Concluding this portion of the program was a Plenary Session on “Research and Market Trends: Thematic Shifts and Macro Level Drivers,” which explored the role of decentralized water and the impacts associated with rolling out the Internet of Things and the Digital Economy on the value chain and technology landscape. Session moderator Tim David Chinn, SVP & Executive Consultant, Drinking Water Program at AECOM, facilitated discussion among panel keynote speakers Mr. Jeff
Mosher, Principal Technologist VP, Carollo Engineers, Inc.; Mr. Paul O’Callaghan, CEO, BlueTech Research; and Mrs. Julie Minton, Director of Strategic Initiatives, The Water Research Foundation. The afternoon concluded with a session on “Water in the Circular Economy,” presented by iAgua, a leading communications platform for the water sector in Spain and Latin America and media partner of the conference. This session began with a dialogue between Félix Parra, General Director of Aqualia, and Alejandro Maceira, Director of iAgua, and included presentations by Gari Villa-Landa, Head of International Affairs of AEAS; Santiago Martínez, Managing Director of Concessions of Almar Water Solutions; Jorge Malfeito, R&D Director of Acciona Agua; José Ferrer, Head of Water Quality Investigation Group of IIAMA; and a Representative of Fira de Barcelona Iwater and the Circular Economy European Summit. Day One concluded with an epicurean Evening at the Valencia Palace of Arts and Science designed by Spain’s renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. The event was sponsored by Almar Water Solutions. The program also included a pre-conference training course on State of the Art in Water Reuse conducted by Mr. Antonio Casanas, Key Account Manager, Dow Water and Process Solutions, and Dr. Domingo Zarzo, AEDyR President, Research & Development Manager of Valoriza Agua. On June 27, IDA and AEDyR will offer conference delegates a special tour of Valencia’s reuse application sites and the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Valencia Ancient Court of Water. Conference sponsors are Almar Water Solutions (An Evening at the Palace); Veolia (Welcome Reception); Future Pipe Industries, Besix, Acciona, Aqualia and Suez (Silver); ROPV (Technical Session); Toray, Sacyr Water and Dow (Supportive); and PWT and Piedmont (Hospitality). iAgua, Water.Desalination+Reuse and Water & Wastewater International are media partners for the event.
Polycera Membranes Welcomes Richard J. Heckmann To Its Board Of Directors PolyCera® Membranes, which develops and markets next-generation membrane technology for industrial wastewater treatment and process separation, announces that Richard J. (“Dick”) Heckmann has joined its Board of Directors.
PolyCera® Membranes, which develops and markets next-generation membrane technology for industrial wastewater treatment and process separation, announces that Richard J. (“Dick”) Heckmann has joined its Board of Directors. Once called “The Man Who Turns Water into Gold,” Mr. Heckmann is known globally for both his business acumen and his longstanding interest in the water sector. He founded USFilter in 1990, and over the next nine years grew the company internally and through acquisitions into a powerhouse in the water industry with annualized revenues of $5 billion. In 1999, USFilter was acquired for $8.2 billion by Vivendi, an international water products group of Vivendi S.A. Mr. Heckmann served as the Chairman of Vivendi Water until 2001 and was a Member of the Supervisory Board at Vivendi Environnement SA (later known as Veolia Environnement SA) from 2000 – 2003. In addition, Mr. Heckmann is the retired Executive Chairman of the Board of Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. (formerly known as Heckmann Corporation) where he held such office from 2012 – 2014 and was previously the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2007 – 2012. He also served as the Executive Chairman of K2 Inc. (“K2”) and was Chairman of the Board from 2000 – 2007. He is also a partner in the ownership of the Phoenix Suns NBA basketball
team. He currently serves as a Director of AECOM Technical Services, Inc. “If anyone has any doubts about the desperate need for new water technologies, they need only look at the growing adoption around the world of water reuse and the search for other advanced solutions to deal with increasing water stress,” said Mr. Heckmann. “We won’t work our way into the next century riding the same water treatment capabilities. Companies like PolyCera will be the key to opening new frontiers and I’m excited to be aboard,” he added. “We are honored that Dick Heckmann, who is regarded by many as a legend in the water industry, has agreed to join PolyCera Membranes’ Board of Directors. His vast experience in leveraging differentiated technology into the market and perspective in growing companies will be invaluable support to my team in growing PolyCera into a global leader in membrane filtration and separation technology and products,” said Simon Marshall, CEO and President of PolyCera Membranes. Eric Hoek, PolyCera Founder and Chairman, added, “Having Dick Heckmann serve on the PolyCera Board is a major development for the company. His strategic support, unparalleled knowledge and broad perspectives will be tremendous assets as PolyCera continues its ascent to industry leadership.”
International Desalination Association Establishes Honorary Council The Board of Directors of the International Desalination Association has named seven prominent members of the global desalination and water reuse community as its Honorary Council. The Board of Directors of the International Desalination Association has named seven prominent members of the global desalination and water reuse community as its Honorary Council. “Among IDA’s great strengths are the commitment of its membership to serve the Association and the depth of their industry experience and knowledge. The IDA Honorary Council is a recognition of notable individuals who have devoted their time to the Association and who have distinguished themselves in the field of desalination and advanced water 40
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treatment solutions. They bring an extraordinary level of longstanding insight of the global industry. Through the support of the Honorary Council members, who will act as ambassadors for the Association, IDA will intensify the engagement with the world’s policymakers to help ensure sustainable solutions to growing water scarcity challenges,” said Shannon McCarthy, IDA Secretary General. The IDA Board of Directors is pleased to welcome the distinguished members for the 2017-2019 term:
Dr. Jim Birkett: Dr. Birkett’s admirable career includes more than 50 years’ experience in the study of desalination, advanced water treatment, and membrane separation industries and technologies with Arthur D. Little and West Neck Strategies. He is a Past President and Director of IDA, recipient of IDA Lifetime Achievement Award, and former editor of “The IDA Journal on Desalination and Water Reuse”. Dr. Jim Birkett: Dr. Birkett’s admirable career includes more than 50 years’ experience in the study of desalination, advanced water treatment, and membrane separation industries and technologies with Arthur D. Little and West Neck Strategies. He is a Past President and Director of IDA, recipient of IDA Lifetime Achievement Award, and former editor of “The IDA Journal on Desalination and Water Reuse”. Dr. David Furukawa: Past President and Director of IDA, Dr. Furukawa is a highly respected member of the global desalination community for more than 50 years. Dr. Furukawa was formerly Head of Desalination Research at the Bureau of Reclamation, Manager of Research at Havens International / Calgon-Havens / UOP Fluid Systems; Vice President – Marketing for FilmTec Corporation/Dow Chemical Corporation; independent consultant; and Chief Scientific Officer for the National Centre of Excellence in Desalination – Australia. Dr. Emilio Gabbrielli: Past IDA President and the current Comptroller of IDA, Dr. Gabbrielli is Director, Overseas Business Development, Global Sales Water Treatment for Toray. His internationally renowned career includes serving as Managing Director of Thames Water do Brazil and Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership, an international network of institutions. Dr. Gabbrielli is also a Global Ambassador of the Australian Water Association. Eng. Mutaz Ghandour: A past Director of IDA, Eng. Ghandour is known for his strong leadership, business acumen and longevity as Chairman and CEO of Metito Holdings Ltd. Mr. Ghandour also serves as Goodwill Ambassador to The UN Intergovernmental Institution for Combating Malnutrition. He
is also a Permanent International Observer to The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Dr. Masura Kurihara: Dr. Kurihara is widely recognized for his great contributions in the fields of desalination and water reuse. He is Senior Scientific Director of “Megaton Water System”, Funding Program for World Leading Innovation R&D on Science & Technology, Japan, and a Fellow of Toray Industries, Inc. A former IDA Director, he is the recipient of the IDA Lifetime Achievement Award and has also been honored with two Presidential Awards from IDA. H.E. Fouad Makhzoumi: Past President and Director of IDA, H.E. Makhzoumi founded Future Pipe Industries in 1984 and has served as its Executive Chairman since 2003. As a Member of Parliament in the Lebanese Government, he is actively promoting change in governance and democracy. A prominent figure across business and political circles, his key accomplishments include, being appointed a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, acting as Vice Chairman of the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and cochairing the Executive Committee of the International Board of the U.S. / Middle East Project. In 2016, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Lebanese American University. In addition to his business leadership and success, in 1997 he founded the Makhzoumi Foundation, which contributes vocational training, health care and micro-credit programs working on all 17 SDGs for the Lebanese civil society development and empowerment. Eng. José Antonio Medina: Engineer Medina served the IDA as President and was a Director of Association. He is from Spain and has also served as the President of AEDyR. He has been a desalination engineer since 1995 and a well-known desalination lecturer in the Universities of Madrid, Alicante, Mexico, and Cuyo. Eng. Medina is well known for his technical expertise and leadership.
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EU Reinforces Position at The Forefront of Global Energy Transformation, Says IRENA Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has welcomed the European Union’s (EU) decision to increase its renewable energy target from 27 per cent to 32 per cent by 2030, highlighting that the move reinforces the EU’s position at the forefront of energy transformation and reflects the new economics of renewable energy. Responding to the announcement made by the European Commission today, Mr. Amin said: “The EU’s decision to increase its renewable energy target from 27 per cent to 32 per cent by 2030 is a move that consolidates Europe’s position at the forefront of the global energy transformation, and establishes a positive decarbonisation pathway in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement. “It is also recognition that the new economics of renewable energy have propelled it to the
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forefront of energy policy and investment decision making as governments around the world look to address long-term climate and economic agendas. Our renewable energy roadmap analysis, delivered to the European Commission earlier this year, identified that higher shares of renewable energy in the EU were cost-effective and would have a net positive economic impact. “This ambitious and achievable new strategy will drive significant additional investment activity, creating thousands of new skilled jobs and improving health and wellbeing whilst decarbonising the European energy system. We welcome the decision and believe it can act as a source of encouragement to global policymakers, and as a clear reminder of the centrality of renewable energy to both economic prosperity and climate stability.”
Over 70 Million Battery-Electric Vehicles Will Be Sold in 2032, says Information Trends Over 70 million light-duty battery-electric vehicles will be sold in 2032 compared to less than a million sold in 2017, according to a market research report published by Information Trends. The battery-electric vehicle sales in 2032 will be almost half of the overall light-duty vehicles sold that year. “We are witnessing a seismic shift in the auto market that parallels the mobile phone revolution,” said Naqi Jaffery, the lead author of the report. Besides the transition to electrified vehicles, this shift encompasses autonomous driving and connected vehicles. The report, “Global Market for BatteryElectric Vehicles,” says that the primary factor contributing to the phenomenal growth of electric vehicles are government incentives and subsidies. The economies of scale resulting from the swift uptake of these vehicles, however, will lead to considerable declines in costs, making government incentives and subsidies unnecessary. “While battery-electric vehicles are the shortterm beneficiaries of the transition to clean energy, we will eventually see widespread
adoption of battery-electric/fuel-cell hybrid vehicles,” Jaffery said. These hybrid vehicles will have more than double the range of internal combustion engines, besides offering all the other advantages of electric mobility. Charging infrastructures are rapidly being developed in most of the major markets, helping propel the uptake of battery-electric vehicles. These infrastructures are increasingly being equipped with fast charging capabilities that help significantly reduce charging time. More than half of the battery-electric vehicles are being produced and sold in China which has emerged as the biggest auto market globally, the report said. Virtually every major automaker has established a presence in China to take advantage of the country’s auto boom. The report only focuses on battery-electric vehicles, which are the fastest growing segment of the electrified vehicles market. The report does not address the plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles. The report can be ordered from the Information Trends website: www. informationtrends.net.
India Increases Its 2022 Renewable Energy Target By 28% They have increased their goal to 227 gigawatts! A few years ago, India has set a target of 175 gigawatts of wind and solar energy by March 2022. While a few believed that this was a practical target, India has advanced and impressed the world. Now, they have increased their goal to 227 gigawatts!
Once India has reached its new goal, it will only be behind China and the US in terms of installed renewable energy capacity. This new goal is just in time as it is expected that renewable energy growth in China may contract this year due to lower subsidies.
In the past few years, India’s renewable energy prices have been high due to high finance costs. Now that those costs have gone down, renewable energy investments are now accelerating. “New opportunities have emerged — altogether a new business space has been created. Indian companies have begun to explore foreign stock exchanges as a source of funds. India is progressively becoming a most favored destination for investment in renewables.” The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) wrote in a recent statement to the media.
The Energy demand in India is continuously growing and renewable energy is allowing this demand to be met at the best price possible. Unfortunately, India is still continuing to add thermal (fossil fuel) power each year, but on the brighter side its utilization is decreasing.
Global prices for renewable energy have also continued to decrease. RK Singh, the Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, recently said at a press conference, “India’s current renewable-based power capacity stands at 70 Gw, and we will cross the 175-Gw target well before 2022. We have new schemes like offshore wind, floating solar, which will help us over-achieve the current target.”
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The Indian government is doing their best to ensure renewable energy is integrated into the national grid and curtailments are minimized. According to the ministry, “We have waived the Inter State Transmission System charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by March 2022. This will encourage setting up of the projects in states that have greater resource potential and availability of suitable land.” To see developing countries take the lead with regard to installing renewable energy is truly incredible. Hopefully, more countries will follow in the footsteps of India. Soon we may expect to see more fossil fuel power plants across the world stranded.
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World Nuclear Association Will Support the 24th World Energy Congress to Highlight the Prominence of Nuclear Energy The UAE Organising Committee of the 24th World Energy Congress and World Nuclear Association announced today the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), focussed on endorsing progression in energy 46
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transition and supporting nuclear technology during the 24th World Energy Congress to take place in Abu Dhabi in 2019. World Nuclear Association is the international
Index of the World Energy Council highlights that, out of the 15 top performing countries, the majority of them use nuclear energy as a way to power their growth. This is an important factor and we are looking forward to bringing key partners from all the energy sectors, including nuclear, to exchange, learn and create the foundations for further collaborations,” said Dr. Matar Al Neyadi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry and Chairman of the UAE Organising Committee for the 24th World Energy Congress. Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, noted that: “The World Energy Congress is the world’s largest and most influential energy event. This memorandum helps us build international recognition for nuclear energy and its importance to achieving global climate targets, while also supporting sustainable development. We need to work together because we need all low carbon options to make a future clean energy system work.”
organisation representing the global nuclear industry. With 178 members from 38 countries on board, it is the only industry body with a global mandate to promote nuclear energy. Given its comprehensive coverage of nuclear energy resources, the collaboration between the 24th World Energy Committee Organising Committee and World Nuclear Association will contribute to the broader debate on the strategic role of nuclear energy to achieve sustainable transitions both at the event and beyond. “Nuclear energy plays a strategic role as a technology that can enable countries to streamline energy transitions while reducing emissions and air pollution in the power generation industry. The 2017 Trilemma
Rising continued, “In the five years from 2015 to 2019 we should see 55 new reactors start in twelve countries, two of those countries hosting their first nuclear power plant. This new nuclear generation will avoid the emission of more than 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, compared to coal.” Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the 24th edition of the Congress will take place from 9 to 12 September 2019 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). World Nuclear Association will join other international partners such as the German Energy Agency (dena) in making Abu Dhabi the epicentre of the global energy debate. World Nuclear Association will also join local Host Sponsors Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s leading strategic investment company and Emirates Nuclear Energy (ENEC). The World Energy Congress sets itself apart from other energy and energy-related conferences by covering the entire energy spectrum, from oil and gas to renewables and nuclear as well as power, providing a forum for the industry’s largest and most diverse conversation.
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Changing Careers? Here’s How Engineers Can Appear Qualified for Their New Job Many engineers today are shifting careers. But how should they manage when looking for a job? Nowadays, it is no longer new that engineers want out of their respective fields to pursue a career that they truly want, may it be related to engineering or something completely different. Some may say that it is a mistake, throwing away all those years of studying engineering only to quit on it later on. If you are one of those engineers making the big change, do not mind them. Taking engineering cannot be really considered a mistake – just think of it as part of the process as a career professional.
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So what now? What do you need to do to make the shift to other fields? Here are tips:
Research the role Say you are a civil engineer wanting to explore the renewable energy sector. While they are slightly related, the cores and scope of the two are different. The best thing to do to keep up is to research the role and study what it takes to get into the business. When you do not have credentials, at least be knowledgeable about your new field of
interest. Dig deep into the job description, ask your friends who work in that sector, and pay attention to the nature of the job.
Update your resume Because you are going to apply for jobs in your new field, you have to make your resume appear that you are fit for your new roles. While you might have difficulty on the technical areas, your soft skills and other engineering skills will be handy as those are transferrable. Relate your previous jobs to the new one as much as possible by mentioning the appropriate experiences that you had in your resume.
The hiring manager needs to be convinced that someone like you, a newbie to the field, is a worthy hire. He or she must never think that you are making a career shift. Use whatever you have researched and studied to your advantage while in this stage.
Be confident It pays to be sure about your decision of changing careers from being an engineer. Each step of the way you must have the trust in yourself that you will succeed in this endeavor. If you do not have that, not one employer will be interested in you. Fake it until you make it!
Highlight relevant experience This is the best way to sell yourself – talk during the job interview.
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Low Winds? New Turbines Still Rate High Efficiency The future of wind power generation is bright especially in Finland. Other than storage of the wind energy, one of the main problems of wind power systems is efficiency. When there is no sufficient wind, the system cannot generate adequate power for the consumers to use. So how can this be improved? Researchers from VTT Research Center of Technology in Finland have a solution. By developing technology that enables higher towers and larger rotors, that is longer blades, than previous wind turbines, the efficiency becomes higher. This renewables breakthrough also allows fewer restrictions in the location of wind turbines. Before, they are often planted in open locations on the ground or in off-shore areas, but now they can be built in forested areas using the technology. One downside of this new-generation wind turbines is the significant increase in investment costs. However, the researchers claim that the benefits will also increase fivefold in terms of the potential offered compared to
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the older technology. Using the demand in Finland as the benchmark, they said that the new system can cover the whole country’s electricity consumption at 86 TWh, while previous technology is only limited to around 16TWh. Research scientist Erkka Rinne of VTT said, “Sufficient wind power is available in Finland. Technology and land use restrictions affect the available wind power potential, i.e. annual energy production. “The key issue is to decide on the extent to which this potential is realized. In practice, wind power is intended to cover part of electricity consumption. Large-scale use of wind power will require new kinds of solutions throughout the electric power system.” Finland is among the top countries which rely heavily on renewables, particularly wind. Several investments are being made in wind power, which makes this new technology by the VTT even more exciting.
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MD & CEO of DEWA Strengthens Ties with Singaporean Consul-General HE Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), welcomed HE Low Pit Chen, Consul-General of Singapore in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Nael Islam, Regional Director of Singapore International Organisation, Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources, and Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Government Communications at DEWA, attended the meeting. This is one of a series of visits by diplomatic and consular officials to DEWA to explore relations, exchange expertise and promote cooperation in power and water. Al Tayer welcomed Chen, and stressed the distinguished relations between the two parties, which have resulted in fruitful cooperation in power and water. Al Tayer presented DEWA’s innovative and pioneering initiatives and projects. These projects aim to achieve the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which constitutes a roadmap for DEWA’s ambitious initiatives and development projects, to promote sustainability, create a community of happiness, and meet the aspirations of Dubai’s citizens and residents. Al Tayer highlighted DEWA’s efforts to develop clean-energy projects with research and development to support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to transform Dubai into a global 52
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hub for clean energy and green economy, and eventually provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050. One of DEWA’s key projects is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar power project in the world. It will produce 5,000MW by 2030 at a total investment of AED 50 billion. Al Tayer talked about DEWA’s water projects to increase productivity, improve operational efficiencies, and increase the flow of water. DEWA has established smart meters and networks to build a smart water-distributionmanagement system. This is part of its strategic plan to keep pace with the increasing demand for its services, and upgrade its services to the highest levels of efficiency, reliability and availability. During the meeting, Al Tayer received an invitation to participate in Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2018 and the Desalination and Water Reuse Business Forum from 8-12 July 2018 in Singapore. At the end of the visit, the Consul General expressed his admiration for DEWA’s projects, efforts and advancement, especially in the production of clean energy and water desalination. This supports the process of sustainable development locally, regionally, and internationally.
What Employers Look For When Hiring Fresh Engineering Graduates With zero work experience, fresh engineering graduates are confused as to what the determining factor really is to be employed. Upon graduating in engineering school, perhaps your greatest worry is how you will be able to land a job. You think that it is difficult to find 54
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employers who will trust someone like you who does not have legitimate work experience.
experiences outside of academics that matter to them: Internships, jobs, volunteering, and extracurricular activities. “When employers do hire from college, the evidence suggests that academic skills are not their primary concern,” says Peter Cappelli, a Wharton professor and the author of a new paper on job skills. “Work experience is the crucial attribute that employers want even for students who have yet to work full-time.” Especially for fresh engineers, it pays to have exposure to companies as early as college through on-the-job trainings and work sidelines. While this is optional for some, lucky are those who have curriculums making internships compulsory because that is what employers want the most. The Chronicle of Higher Education tallied the relative importance of attributes in evaluating graduates for hire. Internships lead with 23 points from a scale of 0 to 100, 21 points for employment during college, 12 points for volunteer experience, and 10 for extracurricular activities. All these are experience-based attributes. Meanwhile, academic attributes include college major with only 13 points, relevance of coursework and college GPA both with 8, and college reputation with 5. This just proves that your GPA will not matter that much after graduation. What does this mean for engineering students? And for you as a job seeker?
It is true that you might have difficulty in securing your first job, but there is a trick: show to hiring managers that you will be worth it. And the best way to do that is to write in your resume what they want. Now the question begs: what do employers want? According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, it is not your college GPA but
Engineering students should invest in getting more on-the-job trainings or relevant work experience while in college. While it does not mean to say that grades do not matter, the experiences outside of the classroom just have more value to hiring managers when it comes to engineering work. And for you who have already graduated and now looking for a job but do not have much prior experience related to your field, make your resume as appealing – while truthful – as possible, secure an interview, and sell yourself there. Tell them how much of a learner you are.
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Hanergy’s solar paper charger
Hanergy Launches Next-Generation Thin-Film Solar Charging Pack and Thin-Film Solar Backpack At the Asia Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Shanghai on June 13th, 2018, Hanergy, a pioneering multinational clean energy company, unveiled two of its innovative, nextgeneration mobile energy solutions: a thin-film solar charging pack, an on-the-go electricity generator and storage device; and a thin-film solar backpack, equipped with thin film solar panels for on-the-go charging of personal electronics. As one of Hanergy’s star products, the thin-film solar charging pack drew significant attention at 2018 CES Shanghai. In terms of physical design, Hanergy’s thin-film solar charging pack delivers an accent of high-tech, offering colors in Digital Grey, Gem Gold and Lady Rouge for options. The free-folding thin-film solar charging pack’s lightweight form provides users with convenient features such as “onegrip to go”. 56
Power & Water Leaders
July 2018
With its world-leading flexible thin-film solar technology, Hanergy’s thin-film solar charging pack adopts a split-body design which allows it to work regularly even under shadows, and in low light and low temperature environments. Not just an electricity generator, the thin-film solar charging pack also serves as a realtime power bank equipped with 5000mAh of capacity. Also, the thin-film solar charging pack can connect to multiple devices wirelessly. Moreover, designed to meet aviation management requirements, the thin-film solar charging pack is permissible to take on commercial flights. Hanergy’s new-generation thin-film solar backpack is designed with the needs of a youthful, plugged in generation in mind. Whether travelling abroad, in the great outdoors, or just out and about in the city, the thin-film solar backpack allows its user a
Hanergy’s solar-powered backpack
constant source of electricity for key electronics like mobile phones and computers. Rather than carry around a mobile charger pack or a tangle of charging cables, users can simply plug in their device to USB ports located inside the bag and on one side of the straps. The thin-film solar backpack combines even greater charging and energy saving capacity with a fashionable, youth-friendly design. The new model is athletic and sleek in appearance, with a hard exterior for protection of the equipment inside. While extremely durable, the new thin-film solar backpack also uses a light and flexible Hanergy MiaSole microchip, which converts and stores solar energy as the user walks around outside. With this store of energy, the user can charge his or her device on the go – an iPhone X, for example, can be charged to from 0 to 50% in just 75 minutes.
for its ingenious integration of fashionable design with environmentally friendly thin film solar chips,” said Zheng Di, Hanergy’s product president. “Our thin-film solar backpack will provide a convenient solution for young people in our increasingly mobile and networked society who need access to their devices at all times.” Zheng said users can also charge the backpack when they’re indoors and without sunshine, as there’s a battery inside the backpack. The latest products will be on Hanergy’s online shop within July, according to Zheng. Along with its thin-film solar backpack and thin-film solar charging pack, Hanergy has been pursuing an impressive range of innovative mobile energy solutions that are disrupting the global clean energy industry.
“We are very pleased to release our next generation thin-film solar backpack, which we are confident will resonate with consumers
Power & Water Leaders
July 2018
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Can’t Land an Engineering Job? Stop Doing These Job Search Mistakes Get a grip! Lose all these lousy job search habits and claim that dream job. There are just engineers who are so reckless during their job search. Some do not care about polishing their resumes, going to the job interview without rehearsing, and whatever that doesn’t require any effort. The important thing to them is just get a damn job. That’s it. What they do not realize is the weight of what they’re doing before and during applying. Even the smallest mistakes can break your job applications, in case you don’t know.
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for you. You can ask around your connections if companies have available positions. Lying in job applications. Engineering companies now are more careful and stringent in hiring new people. They utilize the power of the Internet to verify facts especially on your resume. Save yourself from further embarrassment by being honest in your resume.
Engineering job applicants need to be wary of these most painful job search mistakes. I hope that once you’ve been enlightened by these, you won’t make such mistakes again.
Failing to follow up. You have to know how your application is going. Unless the company said, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” then follow that. But if there’s no mention, always check on the status of your application.
Typos on the resume. Before you print that resume, have it checked by someone else for errors. Then check it again by yourself. It sets an impression of unprofessionalism that you can’t look over that tiny resume mistake.
Being unprofessional. If you’re one with an e-mail address from 2009 that is most likely to be ridiculous, change that. Sanitize your social networking profiles as well. Engineering companies now are extra sneaky!
Relaxing on job applications. You need to find the job, engineer. The job won’t come to you. Stop relying on job postings and look for the unadvertised ones. The odds are they are the best finds because you don’t have much competition. Be proactive in finding the best job
Going into the interview late and unprepared. This isn’t what the company wants from an engineer: tardy and dangerously spontaneous. Always come to any job interview before calltime and with poise. It pays to rehearse a job interview.
Power & Water Leaders
July 2018
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