The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman hosted the Asia Symposium on Net-Zero Engineering and Technologies: Multi-scale Approaches for Integrating Renewable Energy and Green Chemistry on Monday, December 2, 2024. The one-day event, held at the UP National Engineering Center, was organized by the DOST-funded Renewable Energy-Powered Production of Net Zero Energy Carriers: from Emerging Catalysis to Process Engineering (RENetZero) Project in collaboration with multiple institutions, including the Molecular Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Laboratory of Hanyang University, UP National Engineering Center (NEC), and the UP Philippine Learning Center for Environment and Social Sustainability (PHILCESS). The event was funded by the Research Dissemination Grant (for Hosting) provided by the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD).
The symposium brought together more than one hundred participants from the academe and industry to explore strategies for implementing renewable energy and green chemistry across various scales. Distinguished speakers from leading Asian universities shared their insights during plenary discussions and open forums. Participating institutions included the University of the Philippines Los Baños, University of the Philippines Diliman, National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan), Hanyang University (South Korea), and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand).
The afternoon session featured competitive poster presentations showcasing original scientific research and conceptual process designs. Participants presented work in four key areas: Renewable Energy; Life Cycle Assessment; Green Chemistry and Technology; and Carbon Capture Utilization, Storage, and Recovery.
This inaugural symposium served as a vital platform for practitioners to exchange knowledge and expertise in renewable energy and green chemistry. Moreover, it highlighted the growing regional commitment to advancing net-zero initiatives across Asia, fostering collaboration among academic institutions in pursuit of sustainable solutions.
