Experts train MMSU savants on renewable energy techno

Three Japanese experts and one Filipino “balik scientist” are conducting joint international capacity building training-workshop with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) to equip university researchers on renewable energy technologies in line with solar, wind, and biomass energy tracks.

 

The three who are from the Ashikaga University (AU) in Japan are Dr. Tsutomu Dei, Prof. Toru Nagao, and Dr. Mitsumasa Iino.

 

Dr. Dei is an expert in energy conservation engineering, which includes solar PV, wind, biomass, and micro hydro. Prof. Nagao has an extensive industry experience in wind turbine business and is concurrently the vice president of Japan Wind Energy Association, while Dr. Iino specializes on mechanical engineering, dynamics of wind turbines, and dynamics of wave energy converters.

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Capareda is an expert in biomass energy research, agricultural machinery management, hydraulic power, and renewable energy conversions.

 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis said the training, which was held from May 15 to 29, will surely enhance the capacity of the participants in the field of renewable energy, motivate and influence AU faculty and scientists to share their expertise and resources, and develop joint research proposals between and among trainees and trainers to stimulate the continuing effort for transdisciplinary initiative, collaboration and long-lasting friendship.

 

The activity was attended by representatives of MMSU, Marinduque State University, Western Philippines University, Department of Science and Technology (DoST), private colleges/universities, agencies, industries and local government units (LGUs), which are partner-institutions of MMSU’s  National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC).

 

Dr. Carlos Pascual, chief for MMSU’s International Program said the training is very timely as the university prepares for the NBERIC’s gargantuan task of producing the needed bio-energy fuels for the country in the next few years.

 

Pascual said the economic growth, industrialization and increasing population in the developing countries in Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines, contribute to rapidly growing demand for energy while global environmental concerns call for limiting use of fossil fuels.

 

“That’s why the renewable energy technologies that we are about to learn from these lecturers (sic) present a feasible and sustainable option of meeting the growing energy demand,” Pascual said, noting that the training also serves as a call for appropriate institutional, research and continuing capacity building to overcome some impending barriers in the operationalization of NBERIC.

 

Dr. Agrupis said she was happy on the conduct of the training, which was the result of an exchange program between MMSU and AU in line with the two institutions’ academic, research, and business activities.

 

“With the help of AU, the university is now embarking innovative continuing education programs among its faculty, staff and students in the field of renewable energy. There is a need to capacitate them to create a critical mass of future experts and leaders in the field of biomass, solar and wind energy,” she said.

 

AU has the expertise among its leading professors and scientists on various advanced and innovative field of renewable energy technologies.

 

“That’s why we requested selected expert faculty members of AU and the university leadership agreed to become the leading trainers of this training-workshop,” Agrupis said, adding that it would be more challenging for MMSU to operate a national bioenergy research center with the complementary expertise of researchers and professors from the partner-universities in the country.

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