Monday 23 January, 14:00 – 16:30
Room 111, Chemical Engineering Building (Y11 on the campus map)
University of Birmingham
The Birmingham Energy Institute is delighted to invite you to attend a workshop on Clean Cold and the Global Goals, led by Professor Martin Freer, Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute and Toby Peters, Visiting Professor in Power and Cold Economy at the University of Birmingham.
In January 2017, Professor Toby Peters will launched Clean Cold and the Global Goals, a report that demonstrates the need for cooling and how it is critical to achieving all of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Global Goals.
The cooling story
Cooling is vital; without it, the supply of food, medicine and data would simply break down. This workshop will offer an opportunity for academics and professional services across the University to conduct system-level thinking of the wider impact of cold. There will also be discussion of how a joined up approach could benefit the developed and developing world, and how the provision of cooling is central to overcoming our economic, environmental and social challenges, which is integral to modern society.
Cooling is thought to produce around 10% of the world’s CO2 emissions, three times more than aviation and shipping combined. In transport refrigeration, cooling is also responsible for grossly disproportionate emissions of NOx and PM. The social costs of pollution from transport refrigeration to EU countries over the next decade are estimated at €22 billion.
The global significance
Cooling is about to take on global significance. By 2030, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals commit the international community to:
- abolish poverty and hunger;
- provide good healthcare, education, gender equality and access to clean water for all; and
- promote affordable clean energy, sustainable cities, infrastructure, climate action, economic growth and responsible consumption.
There is an urgent need to resolve the cooling dilemma, to provide clean cold, through novel low carbon and zero-emission technologies such as the Dearman engine, and new approaches such as the “cold economy”. Clean cold is no panacea, but it is an essential pre-condition for sustainable development.
The workshop
13:45 Arrival (tea/coffee served)
14:00 Welcome and aim of workshop by Professor Martin Freer, Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute
14:10 Why is cold important? by Toby Peters, Visiting Professor in Power and Cold Economy
14:20 The value of system thinking and integration by Dr Jonathan Radcliffe, Programme Director, Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage
14:30 Thermal Energy Research Accelerator, Birmingham hub for clean cold and Birmingham Energy Institute projects by Professor Martin Freer
14:45 – 15:30
- Cooling solutions in data centres by John Owen, Head of Research Support, IT Services
- Energy and Environmental Law by Professor Robert Gregory Lee, Head of the Birmingham Law School
- Energy Demand, Poverty and Justice by Dr Rosie Day, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Society
- Challenges faced cooling buildings by Ian Gregory, Head of Utilities, Estates Office
15:30 Break (tea/coffee served)
15:40 Open forum: Impacts of joined up thinking around cold, and an opportunity to identify and discuss how clean cold could impact your area of work, and develop key themes.
16.00 Feedback, discussion and moving forward
If you wish to attend, please register your details below:
'Doing Cold Smarter' was launched in 2015 to produce a roadmap for the UK to navigate the complexity of cold energy provision and provide direction for investment in sustainable solutions.
For further information about the commission, please visit www.birmingham.ac.uk/doingcoldsmarter.