POWER ENGINEERING IN THE NEWS

NTU to open green energy research centre

NTU to launch the Energy Research Institute@NTU (ERI@N). The first of six centres will open next month and aims to explore areas such as advanced fuel cell technology, wind and tidal energy, and charge storage. The Centre for Sustainable Energy Research cost $60 million to set up, and was funded by NTU, the EDB and various private sector investors. Over the next two years, five more research centres will be set up to study areas such as geothermal and solar-thermal energy, improving energy efficiency in maritime transportation, and effective policy instruments to address energy security. Professors from the Division of Power Engineering have been actively engaging in sustainable energy research, particularly in energy-efficient water production, intelligent energy distribution and energy storage systems, with funding of about $15 million from NRF, A*Star and industrial collaborators. It will be a key partner in the ERI@N.
 
The Straits Times, Pg B6

Student-built solar-powered sensation - NTU students excel at Shell Eco-marathon Europe

The Nanyang Venture I, an eco-friendly car designed and built by a team of 25 students from NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), wowed many at the Shell Eco-marathon Europe 2009 held in Germany, from 7 to 9 May 2009. The NTU eco-car turned in the best results of the Singapore entries on the first day of the two-day race on 8 May 2009. At the end of the final day of the race, the car came in 4th in the Prototype (Solar) Category (out of 8 in that category) and clinched second place of the 'Safety Award' in the 'Special Awards' category. It was a remarkable achievement for a team which has participated in the Shell Eco-marathon Europe for the first time this year. The School of EEE contributed greatly to the success through its Division of Power Engineering, which is represented by Assoc Prof Don Mahinda Vilathgamuwa, Technical Executives Mr Chua Tiam Lee and Mr Teo Tiong Seng, and student Sudhanshu Ahuja. The latter two were present during the event in Germany.
 
The Straits Times, Pg C28