UPM Bintulu offers ‘Master Technology of Renewable Energy’ next year

BINTULU: Universiti Putra Malaysia ( Bintulu campus) is offering a new academic programme, Master Technology of Renewable Energy, next year, in view of the strong demand and interesting shift towards renewal energy.

Its director Prof Dr Bujang Kim Huat said the university is also trying to solve issues involving food security, food production, forest management and forest restoration.

He said this at the opening of Sarawak Industrial Fiesta 2018 at the civic centre here yesterday, an event jointly organised by the university and All Corp.

Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Sarawak Dr Annuar Rapaee officiated at the event, which was also attended by Regional Corridor of Development Authority (Recoda) chief executive officer Datu Ismawi Ismuni.

UPM is ranked 229th in the Quacquarelli Symonds ( QS) World University Rankings 2017/ 2018, while maintaining its status as the second best university in the country, and in the top one per cent in the world.

“UPM campus is situated at the heart of Sarawak’s gas town. Our work improves the lives of our people and beyond, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research spark imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.

“Our aims are to boost economic development and improving the quality of life,” Bujang said.

He added that through renewable energy project, the university campus would explore and utilise the ‘zero waste industry’ and from ‘waste-to-wealth’ concepts.

“A bio-refinery plant to generate biogas, energy and electricity is being set up at the campus.

“This project is designed to promote green economy from domestic and industrial waste, and for biodiversity conservation in Bintulu Division,” he added.

The harnessing of electricity through solar energy is quite common in Sarawak.

“But, we are doing a little bit more than that. We are using solar energy for water treatment and sanitisation in rural areas, and for cooking. Imagine cooking your lunch using energy from the sun.”