Keynote Speaker
Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi
Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, MalaysiaSpeech Title: Integrated Eco-Industrial Park Planning Towards Net Zero Pathway
Abstract: Net zero emission is when the greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere equals the amount removed. To limit global warming to 1.5°C as called for in the Paris Agreement, emissions must be cut by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Moving towards net zero is necessary to avoid the worst effects of climate change. According to United Nations, more than 70 countries, including the world's largest polluters, China, the United States, and the European Union, have set a net-zero target. Industries are one of the major polluters, and it is reported that more than 2,000 companies have also pledged to move towards net zero. To move towards net zero, a collective effort is needed. Working together will help to achieve this target at a faster rate. An integrated eco-industrial park is where several companies within an industrial park work together towards a net-zero pathway via industrial symbiosis, supply-side, demand-side and end-of-pipe planning and solutions. Over the last four decades, Process Integration (PI) has emerged as a holistic approach for optimally planning, designing and retrofit of minimum resource utilisation networks. PI promotes symbiosis and synergy by maximising resource utilisation efficiency and minimising wastes among interacting processes, industries and systems. This lecture discusses PI techniques for eco-industrial park planning and management towards achieving a net zero pathway.
Biography: Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi is a Fellow and R&D Manager of Process Systems Engineering Centre (UTM-PROSPECT), and Professor in Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She previously helmed as the Director of UTM-PROSPECT for ten years (2011 to 2021). She is an expert resource minimisation consultant for multiple industries and is among the leading researchers in resource integration technique development. Prof Sharifah is also the co-founder and Director of Optimal Systems Engineering Sdn Bhd, a UTM Spin-off company. She has been extensively involved in 80 research projects, 17 industrial based projects for various companies and government agencies and has trained engineers from more than 300 companies in the field of sustainable engineering design and management. Together with her team, they have developed 7 resource minimisation software. Sharifah has won various international and national awards such as Green Talents 2009 (Germany), IChemE Highly Commended Sir Frederick Warner Prize 2011 (UK), ASEAN Young Scientist and Technologist Award 2014, National Young Scientist Award 2015, ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women 2016 in Energy Sustainability, Malaysia Research Star Award 2016, 2018, 2019, Top Research Scientists Malaysia 2018 and Sarawak State - International Women Award 2021. She was listed as ‘Asian Scientist 100’ in 2017 and ‘Asia’s Rising Scientists’ in 2020, and ‘8 Women Scientists from Asia You Should Know’ in 2021 by AsianScientist.com and World Top 2% Scientist 2022 (Single Year and Career Long). Sharifah is also the Associate Editor for Journal of Cleaner Production and UTM Sustainable Energy Management System advisor. She has also served as the Chair for the Science Leadership Working Group under Young Scientist Network, Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) and Chair for Malaysia IChemE Young Engineer Group (YEG). Sharifah is also a professional engineer, a professional technologist, a UK/EU chartered engineer, a certified energy manager, a registered electrical energy manager and a certified trainer for ASEAN energy managers.