The Mastering Energy Supply focusing on Isolated Areas (MESfIA) project, co funded by the
\nERASMIUS+ programme of the European Commission, organized the MESfIA 2021 International
\nConference during 31 August to 01 September 2021. The conference was hosted by the Asian Institute
\nof Technology (AIT), Thailand through the online platform Zoom.<\/p>\n
The online conference started with welcoming remarks delivered by the Conference Chair, Prof.<\/p>\n
Sivanappan Kumar, followed by opening remarks by AIT President, Dr. Eden Y. Woon, who highlighted
\nAIT\u2019s long partnership with ERASMUS and European Commission through capacity building for higher
\neducation projects. The event was also graced by Ms. Francesca Gilli, Attache, Cooperation Department
\nof the Delegation of the EU to Thailand, who noted that the MESFIA Project was at the intersection of
\nmany EU policy initiatives on higher education, research and development, and international
\ncooperation and partnerships. Dr. Antonios Tsikalakis, the MESFIA Project coordinator from the
\nHellenic Mediterranean University of Greece, then highlighted that the project particularly aims to
\nprovide high quality postgraduate education on energy supply for students and professionals in the
\nenergy sector through an effective knowledge and experience sharing link between academic and
\nresearch institutions in EU member countries and in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
The MESFIA 2021 International Conference has achieved its stated objectives through<\/p>\n
\u2022 three key note presentations from regional and international organisations,
\n\u2022 six utility speakers from Asia and Europe,
\n\u2022 twenty eight presentations from more than 16 countries, and
\n\u2022 Five exhibitors from Asia and Europe<\/p>\n
The topics covered in the conference include electricity access; microgrids; renewable energy
\nresources utilization; energy access in remote locations, mountainous areas and islands; and clean cooking.<\/p>\n
The Mesfia activities project were in line with the Sustainable Development Goal number 7,
\nnamely, to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
\nOn the first day, Dr. Priyantha Wijayatunga, Chief of the Energy Sector Group of the Asian Development
\nBank (ADB \u2013 Headquarters in Metro Manila, Philippines) gave an interesting key note presentation titled
\n\u201cThe Last Mile: the longest – 21st century Energy Services for Remote Communities\u201d that energy service
\nfrom the users\u2019 point of view must be given more focus than looking from the energy supply side.
\nAnswering a question, he noted that educational institutions could collaborate with ADB in addressing
\nenergy access issues in rural and remote areas through practical research and pilot projects.<\/p>\n
A second keynote address on \u201cRenewables for Energy Access in Asia: Key Lessons and Way Forward\u201d
\nwas delivered by Mr. Divyam Nagpal of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) from Abu
\nDhabi, UAE. Mr. Nagpal pointed out that solutions should be tailored according to the needs of the
\nparticular area while emphasising that in remote areas, renewable-based clean cooking options can
\nplay a significant role in bridging the access gaps with significant social economic and environmental
\nco-benefits.<\/p>\n
On the second day, Mr. Michael Williamson, the Section Chief of the Energy Division of the United
\nNations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand
\nfurther highlighted clean cooking issues in the region through his presentation \u201cClosing the Gap: Insights
\ninto Clean Cooking in the Asia-Pacific\u201d. He noted that clean cooking is still not on target. Complexity of
\navailable solutions is in play as there\u2019s an overlay of sociocultural, technological, and economic factors.<\/p>\n
Thus, there is no one size fits all solution and a tailored approach is necessary. Mr. Williamson
\nmentioned that UNESCAP and educational institutions can combined forces and help close these gaps
\nthrough collaborative research.<\/p>\n
The conference also heard a panel discussion among representatives of the electricity utility sector
\nfrom Thailand, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Greece and Spain. The Asian speakers gave their country
\nspecific insights on the various barriers their countries had to address in providing electricity access.
\nIn the case of isolated areas, Thailand is implementing two PV-microgrid projects in the northern part
\nof the country through its Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). The country targets full electrification
\nof all its households. Electrification rate currently stands at 99.72% of households. PEA plans to use
\nmicrogrids with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in non-electrified islands in the south. Bhutan\u2019s
\ntopography which consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift
\nrivers along with its difficult weather conditions provide very challenging obstacles to electrifying the
\nkingdom, which it has successfully addressed. Indonesia is also challenged as it is an archipelagic
\ncountry and a significant number of its non-electrified areas are geographically scattered. Meanwhile,
\nroad access, distance from existing energy infrastructures, few households that can merit licensee
\ninvestment in remote areas of Cambodia are just some of the main barriers their government is facing
\nto provide electricity access. Representatives from Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operation
\n(HEDNO), Greece and Enel Green Power, Spain presented their respective countries electrification and
\ndecarbonisation plans for its islands and remote locations, particularly Crete in Greece and Canary
\nIslands in Spain.<\/p>\n
Speakers to the conference ranged from students to experts to practitioners, who presented their
\nresearch findings on various aspects of the conference theme. Exhibitors (ALECOP, EMIN, GEM ORION,
\nQUADRAN and SUMMIT TECHNOLOGIES) also had a chance to showcase their latest energy and
\npower-related equipment, renewable energy devices and energy saving equipment. This exhibition was
\nshown during the online conference.<\/p>\n
The key findings from the presentations and discussions are:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Rural electrification is high in the agenda in the countries, mostly for health and educational
\ninstallations.
\n\u2022 Renewables can play a vital rule for rural electrification especially when combined with storage
\n\u2022 Biomass and LPG can help in meeting cooking needs (not realized in Europe)
\n\u2022 There are solutions which can enhance our green future especially for those in isolated areas
\nand operate these microgrids.<\/p>\n
The training needs and expectations in the countries were:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Good command of STEM
\n\u2022 Good understanding of the local needs
\n\u2022 Problem \u2013solving and communication skills
\n\u2022 Specific technical issues for isolated areas
\n\u2022 Project management skills and logistics to accommodate for difficult infrastructure
\n\u2022 Business skills in order to identify cash flows for implementing such projects.
\n\u2022 IT skills and Good Command of English<\/p>\n
Overall, the MESFIA 2021 international conference was able to present details of the recent research in
\nthe region as well as the latest technological achievements in the field of isolated power systems. It
\nalso brought to a common platform, the stakeholders from financial institution, multilateral
\norganizations, utilities, and universities to discuss energy access issues in remote areas.<\/p>\n
The whole conference was conducted smoothly in the Zoom platform and was streamed live through
\nthe Mesfia project Facebook page.<\/p>\n