An international conference in Melbourne is looking at how access to energy can help reduce poverty, improve social inclusion, including balancing gender equity.
The Deep Dive Lateral Learning Program on Inclusive Energy Solutions is being held at the University of Melbourne this week. It features academics, engineers and government leaders from Asia engaging with representatives from the Asian Development Bank to offer solutions for how market imperatives can be balanced with equity and affordability considerations, to enable modern energy access to poor and low-income communities in developing countries.
Conference co-ordinator Dr Reihana Mohideen from the Melbourne School of Engineering said that modern energy systems have revolutionised society and transformed our lives.
“However, we now need to meet the challenges of increased energy demand and in the context of development and look at what are the technical, social and cost-based issues facing developing nations,” she said.
“Institutional challenges to meet the demands for energy are varied. A key issue is capacity building. This includes anticipating and planning for the skills that will be needed in the coming decades, that is education and training, with a focus on adapting to technological change.”
Speakers will discuss energy transition pathways for the countries in the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation region and consider demand, supply, energy choices and their global impacts.
“This is the time to focus on low-carbon economies based on renewable energy sources and alternative small scale systems such as mini-grids,” Mohideen said.
She added that plans are underway to establish a centre at the University of Melbourne, with a focus on provision of training, new technologies and knowledge transfer in energy and infrastructure to developing countries in Asia. The program will analyse the implications of technology innovation for gender relations.
[Dr Reihana Mohideen from the Melbourne School of Engineering. Photo: University of Melbourne]
Energy will be a major topic of discussion at the Australian Engineering Conference 2016 in Brisbane on November 23-25.