Dr Michael Quah Cheng-Guan Chief Scientist – Energy Technology and Systems, Principal Fellow – Energy Studies Institute Dr. Quah has a PhD (1980), MPhil and MSc, in chemical engineering from Yale University and a BA (magna cum laude) in chemistry and physics, from Harvard. He worked for the DuPont Company from 1979 to 1999, including stints with DuPont Japan and Singapore (1990-1993). At DuPont, Dr Quah held positions in R&D, product and business development, and management. His technical work revolved around membrane technologies for reverse osmosis, gas separations, and electrochemical processes, the last area stimulating his interest in alternative energy innovations. When Dr. Quah worked for DuPont in North Carolina (1993-1999), he also served as Adjunct Professor in Chemical Engineering, at North Carolina State University. After early retirement from DuPont, he held management positions in several small commercial companies and in non-profit organizations, including a stint with the US Army. Dr. Quah has lectured extensively in the following areas: Nafion* and perfluorinated ionomers for use in electrochemical systems (electrolysis, redox flow cells, and fuel cells), membrane separations, micro-grids, and energy / environmental sustainability.

1. What’s Inspiring Here?
from Quah, ESI Roadmap Presentation,
Nov. 4th, 2009

2. Climate Change
and Some Business Opportunities (?)
Prof. Michael QUAH Cheng-Guan
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Principal Fellow & Chief Scientist, Energy Studies Institute
Executive Advisor, NUS Enterprise
The INSPIRE Panel: “The Clean Tech Opportunity”
Asian Youth Energy Summit 2010
Shaw Foundation Alumni House, NUS
October 15th, 2010

3. Discussion
• What’s All the Fuss About?
• Simple Definitions
• Some Suggestions for ACTION
(Possible Business Opportunities)

4. “Climate change and energy are two key issues
that will play a significant role in shaping the
future security environment. Although they
produce distinct types of challenges, climate
change, energy security, and economic stability
are inextricably linked. “
Excerpts from the U.S. DoD 2010
Quadrennial Defense Review
February 1, 2010

5. The Energy/Environment
Situation Today
from Quah, “Possible Military Applications for Bio-based Energy Sources: Some
Perspectives”, US – Canada BioEnergy Forum, Detroit, Michigan, Mar. 27th, 2007

6. The Challenges of
Climate Change
from Quah, ESI Roadmap Presentation,
Nov. 4th, 2009

7. Possible Challenges Ahead
• More Extreme Weather Events (Droughts, Flooding,
Increased Cyclonic and Typhoon Activities, …
• Sea-level Rise and Threats to Coastal Regions
(because of Retreating Glaciers, Melting Ice Caps,
More Icebergs Calving, …)
• Habitat Shifts of Flora and Fauna
• Economic Migrations & Refugee Pressures
• Spread of Life-threatening Diseases

8. Discussion
• What’s All the Fuss About?
• Simple Definitions
• Some Suggestions for ACTION
(Possible Business Opportunities)

9. Reference Scenario (IEA projections):
ASEAN primary energy demand expands by 76% between
2007 and 2030, an average annual rate of growth of
2.5% – much faster than the average rate in the rest of
the world.
ASEAN: one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse
regions, with an economy as large as Canada
and Mexico combined and a population that
exceeds that of the European Union.
ASEAN Economic
Development

10. from World Energy Outlook 2009 (IEA)

11. • Mitigation
• Adaptation
Meeting the Climate Change
Challenge …

12. Some Considerations
Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation
Mitigation: any action taken to permanently eliminate or
reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate change
to human life, property.
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines
mitigation as: “An anthropogenic intervention to reduce
the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.”

13. Some Considerations
Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation
Adaptation: the ability of a system to adjust to climate
change (including climate variability and extremes) to
moderate potential damage, to take advantage of
opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.
The IPCC defines adaptation as the, “adjustment in natural
or human systems to a new or changing environment.
Adaptation to climate change refers to adjustment in
natural or human systems in response to actual or
expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which
moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. “

14. Mitigation
• Promote E2 (Energy Efficiency) and Conservation
• Reduce/stop Subsidies on Fossil Fuels
• Transition (appropriately) to Renewable Energy
Systems & Technologies (Geothermal, Hydro, Solar
[PV and Thermal], Wind, Waste, etc.)
• Balance Personal Aspirations for Private Vehicles
Against the Value (Energy Efficiency) of Public
Transportation
• Transition (appropriately) to Bio-fuels, including
Algae
• “Return” to Local Architectural Designs (Passive
Approaches to Heating/Cooling)

15. 2008 Electrification Rate (%) Population without
electricity
(millions)
Total Urban Rural
Brunei 99.7 100.0 98.6 0.0
Cambodia 24.0 66.0 12.5 11.2
Indonesia 64.5 94.0 32.0 81.1
Laos 55.0 84.0 42.0 2.7
Malaysia 99.4 100.0 98.0 0.2
Myanmar 13.0 19.0 10.0 42.8
Philippines 86.0 97.0 65.0 12.5
Singapore 100.0 100.0 100.0 0.0
Thailand 99.3 100.0 99.0 0.4
Vietnam 89.0 99.6 85.0 9.5
ASEAN Region 71.9 91.3 54.9 160.3
Average electrification rate in
developing countries = 72%
Slide from Anthony L D’Agostino, LKY SchoolSource: IEA World Energy Outlook Electricity Access Database

16. Adaptation
(a Lot Harder)
• MORE than just technology: politics (international,
regional, national, local), economics, technology,
and PEOPLE (human behaviour)
• Risk Assessments, Emergency Response, Disaster
Relief, etc.
• Preservation of Eco-systems: Forests, Jungles, Natural
Habitats, Mangroves, Barrier Islands, etc.
• Pro-active Adaptation:
• Building dykes and barriers for low-lying areas?
• Preparing for crop translocations?
• Relocating vulnerable populations?
• Preparing emergency management plans?

17. Discussion
• What’s All the Fuss About?
• Simple Definitions
• Some Suggestions for ACTION
(Possible Business Opportunities)

18. Back to the
Future
“Far Future” Scenarios
from Quah, ESI Roadmap Presentation,
Nov. 4th, 2009

19. Alternative Energy Sources
Mostly Solar-derived, except for
Geothermal and Nuclear.

20. Electricity
(for the cities and rural regions)

21. Balance Centralized Power
Plants & Distributed Generation
Centralized
Power
Plants
DG 1
DG 4
DG 5
DG 6
DG 3
DG 2
DG 7
DG 8 Also serves rural
electrification needs
from Quah, Keynote Lecture @ the Tufts Energy
Conference, Medford, Massachusetts, April 17, 2010

22. Relationship between HDI and energy
demand
(Slide from Anthony D’Agostino, LKY School)
UNDP’s Human Development Index
• Life expectancy at birth
• Adult literacy rate and school enrollment ratios
• GDP per capita (PPP US$)

23. from Ho and Quah, “SINERGY Centre (From Alternative Energy Technologies to Advanced Energy Solutions)”,
Presentation to EPG, Singapore, October 2006

24. Simple Systems

25. MEWEPS: System Components
Military Encampment Waste-to-Energy Power System
Slide from David McLean, ESI-MINDEF Workshop on “Energy Security:
Options, Implications & Outlook” , October 4th, 2010

26. from Ho and Quah, “SINERGY Centre (From Alternative Energy Technologies to Advanced Energy Solutions)”,
Presentation to EPG, Singapore, October 2006

27. The Age of
Renewables
(plus
Geothermal)
• Diffuse
• Distributed
• Low
Energy
Density
Primarily Fossil
– based
High Energy
Density
Today
E2, Hydro, Geothermal, Waste,
Solar (not just PV), Wind, Wave,
Tidal, OTEC, Nuclear, Bio-mass
• Security Through Diversity
• The Challenges of SOSI
• E2 and Conservation
Price of Fossil Energy (PLUS The Cost of Carbon PLUS ???)
-- NOT Time
The Future of New Technology
Insertions
from Quah, “Crafting a Technology Roadmap Towards Energy Security and Environmental
Sustainability in Singapore: Beginning the Journey, “ ISEAS, Singapore, Dec. 7th, 2009

28. Conclusion: Mitigation
1. Conservation & Energy Efficiency
2. Balance:
i. Feed our “Electron Diet” Differently
ii. Focus on Bio-fuels for our “Liquid Diet”
3. Understand the nuances (go beyond the sound-
bites and hype) and also explore water areas for
bio-fuel sources
4. Minimize transportation challenges  Bio-fuels
should be localized (hinterland) solutions (in the
long run)

29. Conclusion: Adaptation
ONE Example: Comprehensive Emergency Management for
Climate Change Scenarios
1. Disaster Mitigation by Identifying Potential Hazards,
e.g.,
i. Increased Typhoon Activity
ii. Flooding
iii. Water-borne and Food-borne Diseases
2. Preparedness: Emergency Plans, Training, Community
Education & Outreach
3. Response: Active Crisis Management
4. Recovery: Restoration of Infrastructure, Services, etc.

30. ESI Web-sites
www.energy-vibes.com
www.esi.nus.edu.sg
Prof. Michael QUAH Cheng-Guan
E-mail: esiqcm@nus.edu.sg