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Promon Institute of Technology holds seminar on “a challenge to sustainability: water versus energy”
Release: 06/09/2008
One year after launch ITP holds its third seminar, which will discuss water resource management, balancing water for power generation with other water uses, and mitigating environmental impacts
The Promon Institute of Technology (ITP), launched in April 2007 to promote impartial analysis and discussion of technologies that will “make a difference” in strategic sectors, holds its third seminar on June 18. The topic is “A challenge to sustainability: water versus energy”. Admittance is by invitation only.
The seminar attendees, all of whom are specialists in the sector, will discuss the significant challenges of combining water and energy sustainability with environmental conservation, given the constantly rising demand for energy and the decreasing availability of potable water supplies. “Speakers will present ways and means of minimizing the impact of water uses, especially because of the large volume of water required in Brazil to produce hydropower as well as bioenergy. We will also talk about technological issues, such as remote sensing, monitoring, controlling water use, and managing availability and environmental impact,” said Ricardo Corrêa Martins, executive director of IPT.
This ITP initiative is aligned with one of Promon’s corporate objectives, which is to foster the development of new technologies for application in the nation’s production chains. It also embodies the Institute’s goal of contributing to analysis and discussion of emerging technologies and business models, especially their viability and impact, in three priority areas: energy, sustainable development, and information and communications technology (ICT).
According to Martins, this seminar completes the first cycle proposed by the ITP when it was set up. The first meeting discussed “Technologies for the Future of Ethanol Production in Brazil”, while the second was entitled “Telecom Meltdown or Explosion: What Impacts on Brazil?”.
“Our focus in this seminar will be on issues relating to water and energy,” he explained. “The water crisis, which has intensified because of climate change, is evidenced by the impact on river basins and other water resources all over the world of rising demand for both water and energy – thermal power, hydropower and bioenergy in the form of biofuels and electricity from biomass.”
Energy and water are indispensable resources for mankind and strongly interdependent. Power generation requires large amounts of water. Treatment and distribution of water require immediately and easily available low-cost energy. Water and energy consumption are constantly rising and competing with growing demand for farm produce, manufactures and consumer goods.
“Demand for electricity is expected to double between 2000 and 2030, driven by global economic development. A fifty-year scenario points to a 50% increase in demand for water to produce food. For this reason, at the end of the seminar we will have a debate about the ways and means of achieving integrated management of water and energy in Brazil,” Martins said.
The Brazilian and international experts invited to speak at the third seminar include Dr. Jörg Imberger from Australia’s Center for Water Research; Dr. José Goldemberg from the University of São Paulo’s National Biomass Reference Center (Cenbio); Dr. Gilberto Câmera, Director-General of the National Space Research Institute (INPE); Dr. Carlos Afonso Nobre, a senior researcher at INPE; and Dr. Hermes Chipp, Director-General of the National Grid Operator (ONS).
The topics to be discussed at the seminar include: (1) Water Resource Conservation: Challenges and Prospects; (2) Prospects for Minimizing Water Use in Power Generation by Biomass Energy Production; (3) Remote Sensing to Track Water Use and its Environmental Impact; and (4) Challenges and Prospects of Integrated Water and Power Generation Management.
In addition to seminars, ITP offers scholarships for master’s and PhD students engaged in research on subjects of interest to the Institute. “This year we’ve already selected some students from leading universities as part of our effort to develop talent and competencies in areas of strategic importance to Promon. These grants from ITP enable students to devote themselves full-time to their research, which will be vitally important to the development of engineering in Brazil,” Martins said.
Third ITP Seminar Agenda:
9 am
“Water Resource Conservation: Challenges and Prospects”
Speaker: Dr. Jörg Imberger (Chair, Center for Water Research, Australia).
Abstract: Impacts on hydrographic cycles and the environment caused by rising demand for water to produce electricity, in competition with the growing requirements of other economic sectors. New technologies and quantitative methods for water resource management, geared to the pursuit of a balance between the uses of these resources and their environmental impact.
11 am
“Prospects for Minimizing Water Use in Power Generation by Biomass Energy Production”
Speaker: Dr. José Goldemberg (National Biomass Reference Center (Cenbio/USP)
Abstract: Technological prospects for reducing water use while producing equal or larger amounts of power and thus mitigating environmental impact; prospects for minimizing the environmental costs incurred by hydroelectric power generation and bioenergy production in Brazil (biofuels and electricity from sugarcane).
2 pm
“Remote Sensing to Track Water Use and its Environmental Impact”“
Speakers: Dr. Gilberto Câmara (Director, INPE); Dr. Carlos Nobre (Senior Researcher, INPE)
Abstract: Evolution of remote sensing systems using satellites and terrestrial networks for effective water resource management on a local, regional and global scale. Prospects for remote sensing systems and technologies for data collection, representation and management to monitor and control environmental impact and water availability for power generation.
4 pm
“Challenges and Prospects of Integrated Water and Power Generation Management“
Speaker: Dr. Hermes Chipp (Director-General, ONS)
Abstract: Operational planning of power generation and water resource availability in Brazil. Challenges and prospects for water resource management in operating electricity generation nationwide. Possibility of integrated water-energy management to mitigate environmental impacts in the regional, state and federal spheres, mitigating environmental impact.
About the Promon Institute of Technology (ITP) – www.itpromon.com.br
The Promon Institute of Technology (ITP) is a nonprofit set up to contribute to analysis and discussion of the technologies that will be decisive for energy, sustainable development, and information and communication technology (ICT) in the future. It is committed to maintaining a position of neutrality and impartiality in all activities, and refrains from establishing commercial ties of any kind. To this end it cultivates relationships with centers of excellence in research and development both in Brazil and abroad.
About the Promon Group – www.promon.com.br
Founded in 1960, Promon is a Brazilian group recognized for its engineering and project management expertise coupled with strong entrepreneurial capacity. Its core business is the design, integration and implementation of complete infrastructure solutions for key economic sectors such as power, oil & gas, process industries, chemicals, petrochemicals, mining, metallurgy, and information and communications technology.
The organization’s activities are conducted mainly by three companies: Promon Engenharia, a wholly-owned subsidiary; PromonLogicalis, formed by a merger between Promon Tecnologia and the Latin American operations of the Logicalis Group; and Trópico, a joint venture with CPqD and Cisco Systems. The group also includes Fundação Promon de Previdência Social, Instituto de Tecnologia Promon, and Instituto Razão Social, a nonprofit maintained in association with Instituto Camargo Corrêa and Gerdau.
Promon has been recognized as one of the best places to work in Brazil by all twelve editions of the annual “Guia Exame-Você S.A. – As 150 Melhores Empresas para Você Trabalhar” and all twelve editions of the survey “As 100 Melhores Empresas para Você Trabalhar” by the Great Place to Work Institute and Época magazine. It has also figured since 2000 in the Exame Sustainability Guide published by Exame magazine, and in 2007 won the National Quality Prize awarded by Fundação Nacional da Qualidade. All these recognitions demonstrate the soundness of its management practices and the success of its business model.
Journalists requiring more information should contact:
A4 Comunicação
Priscilla Tavollassi – priscillatavollassi@a4com.com.br
Tel: +55 11 3897 4122 / 7152 7689
www.a4com.com.br
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