Keynote Speakers

We are very pleased to have acquired the services of an excellent selection of keynote speakers for SEB'10. It is our aspiration that these speakers will give our delegates a view about technological and scientific activities, relating to sustainability in energy and buildings, taking place in various areas of the world.

The speakers and the titles of their talks are shown below.

Note that the list is incomplete at the moment and other speakers will be added over time.



Professor Andrew Miller

Centre for Sustainability of the Built Environment
University of Brighton, UK

Building Energy Efficiency: - towards energy sustainability
More details ...

Professor Roger Morgan

School of Engineering
Liverpool John Moores University, UK

Displacement of conventional domestic energy demands by 'green' electricity
More details ...




Professor Andrew Miller

Centre for Sustainability of the Built Environment
University of Brighton, UK


Building Energy Efficiency: - towards energy sustainability

Abstract:

Throughout the developed world the energy required for constructing, operating and maintaining our buildings represents a major proportion of the prime energy consumed and of greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere. Reduction in demand is therefore key to ensuring sustainability of energy supply, making existing buildings more efficient and constructing new buildings with optimum energy demands. It is also necessary to take a whole life cycle approach to the evaluation of energy consumption considering the embodied energy of the building materials and the demolition and recycling of the materials at the end of the useful life of the building.

This paper will take a whole life cycle approach to the analysis of energy efficiency in buildings. It will consider the principles of design for energy efficient buildings and focus on the issues associated with improving efficiency in existing buildings and their adaptability for utilizing renewable energy.

Prof Andrew Miller

Biography:

Prof Andrew Miller is a member of the School of Environment and Technology at the University of Brighton and the Head of the Centre for Sustainability in the Built Environment.



Contact

Professor Andrew Miller
Centre for Sustainability of the Built Environment
University of Brighton, UK
E-mail: a.miller@brighton.ac.uk




Professor Roger Morgan

School of Engineering
Liverpool John Moores University, UK


Displacement of conventional domestic energy demands by 'green' electricity

Abstract:

With an increasing proportion of electricity coming from renewable and from other low-carbon-dioxide sources, probably including nuclear in the future, it becomes attractive to look for a displacement of existing energy-consuming activities, both in the home and for activities associated with the home, away from fossil fuel burning appliances and towards electricity. However, this can be justified only if the increased electrical load is genuinely met from low-CO2 sources. In practice, this probably means using as large a proportion as possible of the 'new' loads at night, using base-load generation. This would make the best possible use of generation capacity, especially if the proportion of nuclear and renewable generation is increased. It would also improve the utilisation of the transmission and distribution infrastructure, which, like the generation capacity, is not fully utilised at night.

A good example is private electric vehicles, which displace the use of petrol and diesel, which are still mostly fossil-fuel based despite the availability of bio-diesel and other bio-fuels. Private cars and bikes are typically kept at home in the evening, and need to be charged at home overnight. This has implications for the suburban electricity distribution network. Currently, most residential areas in the UK are cabled on the assumption of a 2kW (or even a 1kW) average demand. Any major increase in residential load, even at night, might involve reinforcement of the suburban distribution network, including both the substations and the underground cables.

Another good example is domestic space and water heating, which in much of the UK is dominated by natural gas. Replacing some or most of this demand by electricity would displace natural gas, which is not only fossil fuel based but also increasingly an import. This may mean a new lease of life for electric thermal storage heating. With the widespread use of hydronic (wet) heating systems in this country, any new thermal storage proposals need to be compatible with conventional pipes and radiators. This can be achieved not only with water storage, but also with a number of other thermal storage substances. But again, any increase in domestic load, even at night, might necessitate reinforcement of the suburban distribution network.

Are we prepared for the cost and disruption this would cause? Or can we use demand-side management to regulate the demand of new loads so as to make more effective use of the existing capacity?

This paper will use experimental evidence based on case studies, together with estimates based on existing information, to calculate the magnitude of extra electricity demand which might result from changing to electricity and away from the direct use of fossil fuel for domestic demands. An attempt will be made to include reductions in demand resulting from improved efficiencies and conservation measures. The resulting figures will be used to estimate how much demand could be met without increasing generation capacity or reinforcing the transmission and distribution infrastructure, and what level of reinforcement might be needed if the whole of the demand is to be met by electricity.

Prof Roger Morgan

Biography:

Roger Morgan is an Emeritus Professor at Liverpool John Moores University, an honorary post which he has held since retiring from the Professorship of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2008. He has also held academic posts at the University of Brighton and the University of Ulster. His first job was with the Central Electricity Generating Board, where he was a research officer in nuclear power generation. After graduating from Cambridge University in 1964, his research career began with a PhD in materials science, but since the early 1970s has concentrated on energy efficiency and the effective use of natural energy sources. He is the author or co-author of over 150 papers and reports, and eight books. Since retiring, he has become a student again; he is enrolled in the External Degree through the medium of Welsh at Aberystwyth University. His other leisure interests include sea-going sailing, climbing mountains, and playing the mandolin in a folk-dancing band.

Contact

Professor Roger Morgan
School of Engineering
Liverpool John Moores University
Byrom Street, Liverpool, UK
E-mail: r.morgan@ljmu.ac.uk






  • Solar Building
  • University of Brighton
  • KES International
  • KES International
  • World Renewable Energy Congress/Network
  • International Association for Hydrogen Energy