Keynote Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Prof. Lim Boon Han
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia

Keynote Lecture: Solar Photovoltaic System Research in the Tropics

Abstract: The performance of solar photovoltaic systems relies on the local meteorological conditions and the design techniques. The adoption of photovoltaic (PV) as one of the renewable sources of electricity generation has been booming in tropical regions, particularly in Southeast Asia. However, there are a lot of techniques for the design and performance assessment of PV systems that need to be tailored to improve the performance of PV systems for this region that has a specific climate. Examples of differences in tropical climate that will impact the PV system performance are frequent passing clouds, low terrestrial wind speed, high ambient temperature, high humidity and high sun trajectory. The International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV) has projected an increase in the use of special PV modules for desert and tropical regions after 2020. In this conference, the speaker will report several techniques that have been developed so far. All the projects are related to the characterisation of solar irradiance databases in the tropics, and it concluded that high-resolution solar irradiance data collection is important for increasing the accuracy to yield optimal design or to improve the performance of PV plants in the tropics.

Biography: Dr Lim Boon Han is an Associate Professor at Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Optical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He has 26 years of experience in solar energy research, both in industry and academics. Currently, his research focuses on improving the techniques for performance assessment and design of photovoltaic systems in tropical climates. He represents Malaysia to TC 82 WG3 and WG6 of IEC’s standard working group committee for photovoltaic systems. He was awarded membership of the Global Young Academy (GYA) in 2015, the Chinese Academy of Sciences PIFI in 2023-2024 and 2025-2026, and a Fulbright Malaysian Scholarship in 2024. He is also a fellow of ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (FAAET).

 

Dr. Danny Pudjianto
Imperial College London, UK

Keynote Lecture: Holistic Evaluation of the Roles and Values of Electrolysers in a Net-Zero Energy System

Abstract: While the capacity of electrolysers is expected to grow significantly over the next 5 to 10 years, there are serious concerns about the value this technology will bring to the energy system. The production cost of green hydrogen is currently 2 to 3 times higher than that of blue hydrogen, thus raising questions about the competitiveness of electrolysis. However, electrolysers offer additional benefits that blue hydrogen production technologies cannot provide. For example, they enhance system balancing capabilities and manage network congestion, allowing for more cost-effective integration of variable renewable energy sources. This presentation outlines a comprehensive methodology for assessing the benefits of optimally integrating electrolysers into a Net Zero Energy system. The optimisation process considers large-scale multi-energy system planning, considering the interactions among various low-carbon generation technologies, such as renewables, energy storage, and smart demand response, while also factoring in the spatial and temporal dynamics of energy supply and demand. The value of electrolysers is evaluated by comparing system capacity portfolios and operational costs between scenarios that include electrolysers and those that do not. The analysis specifically focuses on future energy scenarios in Great Britain, exploring different assumptions to identify the key value drivers and optimal distribution of electrolysers within the system. Results emphasise the role of electrolysers in improving system balancing and energy storage capabilities, as well as in promoting sector coupling between electricity and hydrogen systems. This synergy enables low-cost hydrogen storage and generation, which is crucial for providing ancillary services and ensuring the energy system's resilience. The presentation will also discuss insights from sensitivity studies on the effects of varying low-carbon technology costs, gas prices, and the flexibility provided by end-use customers and distributed storage.

Biography: Dr Danny Pudjianto is an Advanced Research Fellow with expertise in energy system modelling and optimisation for planning and operation, energy system economics, regulation, system security, and evaluations of the benefits of emerging technologies such as smart grids, active network management, demand response, distributed generation, energy storage, and energy networks. The current focus of his research work is on the area of integrated multi-energy systems and the evaluation of innovative technologies. He leads the development of the whole-energy system optimisation concepts, highlighting the importance of complex interactions across energy vectors (electricity, heat, hydrogen) and coordination for decarbonising energy systems. He also leads studies on the system integration of renewable technologies. He has experience with public and private sector consultancy and energy policy and technology research at the international level. He is a senior member of IEEE, a member of the IET, and serves on the editorial board of the Renewable Energy journal. He has published more than 100 technical papers and 70 industrial/research reports.

 

Prof. LEE Yee Cheong
Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World (AETDEW), Malaysia

Keynote Lecture: A Life Time Voyage Around Power Grids

Abstract: As the NEB power grid was extending with speed to Perlis in the North, Johor in the South and Pahang in the East, it became obvious that a new system control centre was needed. I was assigned as the Project Director of the National Load Despatch Centre Project (NLDC), including the building design of the National Load Despatch Building next the NEB Head Office in Bangsar. I spent my last fiver years with NEB, 1974 to 1979, on this project which was my crowning achievement. In order that NLDC was designed to prevailing international standard, Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) UK was appointed consultants for the project. In hindsight, this was not a good choice. Two glaring examples stood out, namely the refusal to use colour CRT monitor displays and the insistence of dialogue mode instead of using the cursor on single line schematic display for power system device control. The first was because grid control operators might be colour blind! The second was lack of confidence in real time computer man machine interface. However, I knew that colour CRT-monitor interactive displays had long been proven in grid control centres in power utilities in Canada, USA, Europe and Australia. It was very difficult for a young upstart from the colonies to withstand the might of CEGB! With the support of NEB management, I stood firm and exercised the client’s prerogative. We carried out a prequalification exercise of the well-known suppliers.

Biography: Academician Dato' Ir. (Dr.) LEE Yee Cheong, BE Hons (Adelaide), Hon. Doc Eng (UNITEN), DPMP, KMN, AO Academician Dato' Ir. (Dr.) Lee Yee Cheong was educated in Yuk Choy High School and St Michael's Institution Ipoh Malaysia. He graduated from University of Adelaide, South Australia. He is the Malaysian Honorary Chairman, International Science Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC), Kuala Lumpur; Honorary President, Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World (AETDEW); former Pro-Chancellor, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur; Advisor to the President of UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSM) Malaysia; Distinguished Visiting Professor, UCSI University Malaysia; he is Chief Advisor to the President, World Federation of Engineering Organisations WFEO. He is a Member of International Committee, La Main a la Pate Foundation, France; former President, Belt & Road International Science Education Consortium, China; Member, International Advisory Board, ECO Science Foundation, Pakistan. He is Advisor, Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO). He is Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK, the Institution of Civil Engineers, UK, Engineers Australia, Myanmar Engineering Society and the Institution of Engineers, MAURITIUS, Honorary Professor, China Agricultural University, Honorary Professor, China Academy (University) of Printing and Packaging Technology. He was President and now Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia; Honorary President of Commonwealth Engineers Council (CEC); President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO); He was Secretary-General, Federation of Engineering Institutions of South East Asia and Pacific (FEISEAP) and former President of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO). He was Advisor to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia and a Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development; He was Chairman, Global Council InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Program (IAP SEP). He served with the National Electricity Board, Malaysia from 1961-1979. During his service with NEB, he was active in promoting the ASEAN Power Grid through joint study by the ASEAN Power Utilities Computer Application Committee. He was an active promoter of the Conference of Electric Power Supply Industry CEPSI and was instrumental in getting Electric Power Utilities from China to join CEPSI. He resigned from NEB as Deputy Chief Engineer (System Operation) after completing the computer controlled National Load Despatch Centre Project. He then founded and was CEO of Tenaga Ewbank Preece and later KTA Tenaga. He became a Partner of Ewbank Preece Consulting Group, UK; He was Board Director of UMW Holdings Berhad Malaysia, assembler and distributor of Toyota vehicles. He was a board member of Board of Engineers Malaysia and Board of Architects Malaysia. He was a council member of Badan Warisan Malaysia (Malaysia Heritage Organisation). He is founding Secretary General of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia; the founding President of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology; Foreign Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering; Foreign Member of the Pan-American Academy of Engineering; Member of China Academy of Technology. He served as a founding Board member of the InterAcademy Council (IAC) of the world's scientific academies and Special Advisor to IAC Co-Chair on Sustainable Energy. He was Co-chair of Task Force "Science, Technology and Innovation" of the United Nations Millennium Project; former Member of the National Economic and Social Council Kenya. He was former Member of the National Science and Research Council, Malaysia; former Patron of the International Young Professionals Foundation; and former Member of the International Advisory Board of "Engineers Without Borders" Canada; Member of the Board of Trustees of Engineers Against Poverty, U.K; Member of the International Commission for Education for Sustainable Development Practice, Earth Institute, Columbia University; Member of International Advisory Board of Grand Challenges Canada. He was Co-author of the UN Millennium Project Science Technology and Innovation Task Force Study Report "Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development", 2005. He published his autobiography "Think Malaysia, Act Global" September 2010 and its 2nd Edition in September 2021. He was awarded the International Prize for South-South Cooperation of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation; the Jang YoungSil Grand International Science and Culture Prize, Korea; the Malaysian State Awards of DPMP and KMN and the Honorary Officer in the Order of Australia (AO).