The Future of Renewable Energy: Trends and Innovations in Sustainable Engineering

on 04/07/2024

The field of sustainable engineering is characterized by dynamic developments and inventive techniques that will determine the next generation of renewable energy. Renewable energy sources are essential to changing the world’s energy landscape as concerns about environmental sustainability and climate change grow. In this field, solar power stands out as a major participant because of the ongoing improvements in photovoltaic technology, which lead to higher affordability and efficiency. New developments in solar energy, such as solar paint and next-generation solar panels, have the potential to increase solar power’s accessibility and range. Another important component of renewable energy is wind power, which is becoming more and more efficient because to continuous advancements in wind turbine technology. Using greater strength and more reliable winds over open waters, offshore wind farms in particular have become more and more popular. A state-of-the-art invention that allows for installations in deeper offshore sites is the floating wind turbine, which increases the potential of wind energy even more. These developments highlight the possibility of wind energy to play a significant role in the development of sustainable energy systems in the future.
For renewable energy sources to be dependable and stable, energy storage is essential. Modern energy storage technologies, like grid-scale storage options and better batteries, address the sporadic nature of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Building a robust and adaptable energy infrastructure that can successfully balance supply and demand requires the development of high-capacity, reasonably priced energy storage devices. A revolutionary development in sustainable engineering is the use of smart grids and sophisticated grid management systems. In order to improve grid stability, optimize energy distribution, and incorporate a variety of renewable energy sources, these systems make use of digital technology, networks for communication, and data analytics. Real-time tracking and management are made possible by smart grids, which improves demand responsiveness, energy conservation, and overall system resilience. The decentralized and fluctuating nature of renewable energy requires the incorporation of smart grid technologies.
Building design and operation, transportation, and industrial operations are all impacted by the idea of energy efficiency, which is a cornerstone of sustainable engineering. A few examples of developments promoting energy conservation in the built environment are smart building management systems, energy-saving lighting networks, and solar technology integrated into buildings. Carbon emissions are decreased and environmentally friendly mobility is promoted by sustainable transportation options, such as electric cars and state-of-the-art public transit systems. Bioenergy is a flexible and renewable resource in the field of sustainable engineering. The organic materials known as biomass, which includes forestry waste and agricultural wastes, can be processed to create biogas, biofuels, and other sustainable energy sources. The creation of sophisticated methods for producing biofuels, such as biofuels derived from algae and crops genetically modified to produce large amounts of energy, is referred to as bioenergy innovation. These methods add to an energy portfolio that is more sustainable and diversified.
An developed renewable energy source, hydropower is still being improved upon to maximize its efficiency and reduce its negative environmental effects. Hydropower innovations of the future, such fish-friendly hydroelectric systems and creative turbine designs, are designed to maximize power production while addressing environmental issues. Hydropower becomes even more of a dependable and sustainable energy source when combined with other renewable energy sources in hybrid systems. With its ability to extract heat from the Earth’s interior, geothermal energy presents unexplored possibilities for sustainable engineering. By building man-made reservoirs for the extraction of heat, enhanced geothermal system (EGS) innovations seek to extend the geographic reach of geothermal power. Furthermore, the development of power plants with binary cycles and conventional applications has increased the viability of geothermal energy for the production of electricity and heating directly in a variety of businesses.
New developments in ocean energy technology provide up new possibilities for environmentally friendly engineering solutions. Ocean thermal energy conversion systems, wave energy, and tidal energy are gaining popularity because they can be used to tap into the enormous energy reserves found in the oceans. Continuous advancements in marine energy technology aim to surmount technical obstacles and render these oceanic energy sources financially feasible as part of the mix of renewable energy sources. Circular economy concepts are becoming more and more popular in the wider context of sustainable engineering. Circular economy strategies encourage recycling, material reuse, and a decrease in overall consumption with the goal of minimizing waste and maximizing resource utilization. Through the creation of a closed-loop system that reduces environmental impact and maximizes resource efficiency, the incorporation of circular economy ideas into engineering processes promotes sustainability.
Technology advancement, legal frameworks, community involvement, and sustainable engineering techniques will all interact dynamically to shape the future of renewable energy. A world where environmentally friendly energy systems are essential to tackling issues like climate change and the sustainability of energy is being shaped by the continuous development of solar and wind technologies, improvements in storage for energy and grid management, research of a variety of renewable resources, and incorporation of circular economy principles.

QUEST, University of Oradea join hands for scientific research, mobility of researchers, students

on 04/07/2024

Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology (QUEST), Nawabshah and the University of Oradea (UO), Romania have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for scientific research, mobility of academic staff and researchers and students and sharing of know-how about high, complex technical-scientific sets.
The document signed by Prof. Dr. Constantin BUNGAU, Rector of the University of Oradea, and Prof. Dr. Saleem Raza Samo, Vice Chancellor of QUEST, Nawabshah says the purpose of the agreement is to engage in joint academic cooperation in a variety of activities. They include: Scientific research, Educational activities in subjects of common interest, Mobility of academic staff and researchers, Mobility of students and doctoral candidates for academic activities to be recognized
through a procedure jointly agreed by the Parties, Exchange of information and bibliographic materials, sharing of know-how about high, complex technical-scientific sets, higher education extension activities, including the mobility of technical, administrative, and librarian staff connected to these goals, and participation in seminars and academic meetings.
Other articles of the documents are as under:
Article II: Implementation
Should the implementation of the previous article require an agreement between the Parties or
the provision of financial resources, the Parties shall develop specific projects and working plans
to be formalized in appropriate Addenda connected to this Memorandum. Thee Addenda shall
specify the funds necessary for the implementation of the foreseen activities.
The Addenda specified in this Article shall respect the following minimum requirements:
Goals to achieve, Identification and description of the activities to implement, Timetable and implementation stages, Identification of available funds and foreseen costs and Plan for the use of the financial resources.
Article III: Selection criteria
Participants in the activities foreseen in this Memorandum will be selected on the basis of merit
without regard to race, national or ethnic origin, religion, color, age, gender, marital status,
physical disabilities, or sexual orientation. Each Party shall accept the participants selected by the
other Party if mutually acceptable academic and/or professional qualifications and standards are
met.
Article IV: Coordination and monitoring
In order to coordinate and monitor the jointly agreed activities, each University shall appoint its
own representatives depending on the specific fields concerned.
Article V: Intellectual property
The intellectual property rights arising from the activities realized in the framework of this
The memorandum belongs to both Parties. Publications shall mention this origin. For the activities
which might produce outcomes with economic effects, the Parties shall jointly arrange the
property rights and their protection according to their own rules.
Article VI: Resolution of disputes
The Parties shall commit to solving any dispute connected to the interpretation or
implementation of this Memorandum through negotiation. When a jointly agreed solution cannot
be achieved, the disputes shall be submitted to the un appealable decision of an ad hoc Arbitration
panel composed by three members. Each Party shall appoint one member. The two appointed
members shall jointly appoint the third member with the role of chairperson.
Article VII: Coming into force and term
This Memorandum shall be effective as of the latest signature date below and shall remain in force
for a period of five (5) years following this date (June 28, 2024), unless written notice is given by either Party. The notice shall take effect three months after the date of notification to the other Party. Nevertheless, the activities in progress in the framework of this Memorandum shall not be compromised by the notice and shall be normally concluded.

330 bpd oil, 7.7 MMSCF gas increased from Nashpa-4

on 04/07/2024

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has successfully revitalized production from Nashpa-4 located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in enhanced production from the well.
The listed company shared the development in its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday.
“We are pleased to announce that Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has successfully revitalized Nashpa-4 well,” said the company in its notice.
OGDC stated that the well was re-evaluated for the potential of the upper zone of the Lockhart formation, resulting in an increase of 330 barrels per day (bpd) of oil and 7.7 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF) of gas at a wellhead flowing pressure (WHFP) of 1570 PSI.
Additionally, 21 metric tons per day (MT) of LPG is being recovered, it added.
PPL sees significant boost in oil & gas production
“The gas is now being injected into the SNGPL network,” said the company.
Nashpa-4 well is situated within the Nashpa Development and Production Lease (D&PL) in the Karak district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Nashpa D&PL operates under a joint venture, wherein OGDCL as operator, possessing a 56.45% stake, alongside Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) with a 28.55% share, and Government Holding Private Limited (GHPL) holds 15% share.
Back in May, OGDC registered a significant increase in oil production from Nashpa Well-10 in Nashpa Development and Production Lease (D&PL).
OGDC is the largest exploration and production (E&P) company in Pakistan with operations including exploration, drilling operation services, production, reservoir management, and engineering support.
The company has the most extensive exploration acreage in Pakistan, covering over 40% of the country’s total acreage awarded with net hydrocarbons of oil and gas.
For the first six months of the financial year 2023-24, the company reported a PAT of Rs123.3 billion, up 30% as compared to Rs95.01 billion in same period last year.
The market capitalisation of OGDC at the PSX stands at $2.15 billion.

Pakistan HVACR Society Lifetime Achievement Award and 30th Anniversary Celebration

on 04/07/2024

Pakistan HVACR Society celebrated its 30th anniversary and started giving lifetime achievement awards to the professionals in the HVACR field. The society finalized three names with consensus. The lifetime achievement award was given to Saeed A. Khan from Islamabad, Yousuf Hasan from Karachi and Ali Hussain from Lahore.
The award giving ceremony was held in Islamabad. Society President Ramzan Sharif along with Naseer Ahmad, Abdura Rauf Ch., Ch. Nadeem R. Rauf, and other senior members give awards to recipients.
On this occasion Mr. Yousuf Hasan, Mr. Saeed A. Khan and Mr. Ali Hussain expressed their gratitude & thanked the Society and to the members, who were well appreciated and applauded.
In the end, all the worthy members celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Pakistan HVACR Society by cutting the cake. The Society President thanked the house for their active participation and announced that this ceremony would be conducted every year and would be the same pattern at all regional offices.
The celebration and cake cutting ceremony was also held in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabd.

Tax burden on salaried class may lead to brain drain: P@SHA Federal budget to stifle growth, innovation

on 04/07/2024

The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) voices strong concerns about the recently announced Federal Budget 2024-25, stating it will worsen the brain drain in the IT sector due to high taxation, stifling growth and innovation.
Chairman of P@SHA, Muhammad Zohaib Khan says that the press conference is aimed to emphasize that despite repeated assurances from the incumbent government, the budgetary proposals from the IT industry have been completely ignored.
The new finance bill confirms two things; one, the finance division’s short-sightedness vis-a-vis the IT industry and dovetailed to that is the death warrant it signed for the industry.
Over the past 10 days, P@SHA has expressed its concerns on various platforms, including national and international media and decision-making forums. P@SHA was invited to present its position during a crucial meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue. The association highlighted that the higher income tax burden on the salaried class could lead to a brain drain. This issue is compounded by the remote worker tax regime, which undermines the government’s goal of increasing revenue and expanding the tax net.
The Rs79 billion allocated in the budget is primarily for government projects and IT parks, neglecting the broader IT industry. The situation regarding taxes and human resource availability is already alarming, and P@SHA has consistently presented relevant proposals to the government.
One key issue is the higher income taxes on the salaried class, potentially leading to a talent drain. The remote worker tax regime further undermines the government’s revenue goals. Remote workers, often paid in foreign currencies, face lower tax burdens compared to domestic employees, incentivizing companies to reclassify senior staff as freelancers, leading to inefficiencies and tax revenue loss.
To address these discrepancies, P@SHA proposes a competitive tax rate for payroll, such as a flat 5%, for P@SHA and PSEB-registered IT companies. This would encourage formal employment and prevent talent drain. Additionally, implementing clear policies to ensure remote-workers’ pay their fair share would create a level playing field for local businesses.
P@SHA also highlights the need for reforms to facilitate smoother foreign remittances for the IT industry and broader economy. The association points out anomalies in current tax laws, such as increased GST on laptop and desktop imports, depicting a bleak future for Pakistan’s IT industry.
P@SHA draws attention to tax anomalies faced by IT exporters. These exporters, under the Final Tax Regime (FTR), face additional tax rates on payments abroad, hampering their efficiency and competitiveness. P@SHA proposes avoiding double taxation, promoting the use of Exporters Special Foreign Currency Accounts (ESFCAs), and making ESFCAs more attractive for IT companies.
P@SHA remains steadfast in advocating for the IT industry, ensuring the sector receives recognition and support in policy-making decisions.